Seaport Association Offers More Seating On Cruise to Sheffield Island

 

The Norwalk Seaport Association is offering a number of seats at no charge for one adult and one child from Connecticut as part of the Connecticut Summer at the Museum Program. This program is geared toward families exploring the beauty of Connecticut's attractions together. "We have been overwhelmed by the demand and positive response from this program and have made more seating available to meet the demand," said Jerry Toni, Business Manager of the Seaport Association. "We are thrilled to participate in this program this year because it helps us accomplish our mission of educating young people about the importance of Connecticut’s maritime heritage and why preservation is so important." 

Helpful Tips to Make Booking Easy 

There are a few things to keep in mind when booking your tickets at Eventbrite so we have outlined a few helpful tips. 

The child and accompanying adult must be Connecticut residents. This offer is valid for the three-hour cruise to Sheffield Island; the boat departs from the dock on Water Street Wednesday- Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations must be made online in advance. 

The tickets are not available for special events or sunset cruises. 

Be patient and check back often. Sometimes tickets are booked and then canceled, so availability is fluid. 

In the spirit of this wonderful program, the Seaport Association strives to add additional seating to cruises as inventory becomes available so it is important to check back often. 

When taking the cruise to Sheffield Island don't forget your camera, sunscreen, a picnic lunch, and, most importantly your sense of adventure and fun! For tickets click seaport.org.

Jazz in the Garden @ Torrington Historical Society

 

The Torrington Historical Society is excited to announce its popular ‘Jazz in the Garden’ outdoor concert series set on the lawn of the historic Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, 192 Main Street in Torrington. This year’s concert series features highly accomplished jazz musicians from New England and New York, many of whom have previously performed at the Torrington Historical Society. All of the musicians have recorded and performed widely with a variety of jazz greats. 

The series, which will include three concerts, is sponsored by Northwest Community Bank. Attendees should bring a lawn chair or blanket and are also welcome to bring refreshments. Tickets for all concerts are $15 for Torrington Historical Society members and $18 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased by clicking here. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive in Torrington. 

New Chordtet will open the summer series on Saturday, July 23rd at 6:30 pm. New Chordtet features Peter McEachern (trombone), Mike DiRubbo (saxophone), Dave Santoro (bass), Tom Melito (drums), Larry Ham (piano), and Dave Ballou (trumpet). The group has found fertile ground in jazz classics by important and under-appreciated composers such as Sonny Clark, Herbie Nichols, Curtis Fuller, Carla Bley, and Roswell Rudd, as well as originals by members of the group. 

The next two performances are the Adam Nussbaum Trio on August 6th and the Kris Jensen Quartet with vocalist Linda Ransom on August 26th. 

About the Torrington Historical Society

The Torrington Historical Society, located at the historic Hotchkiss-Fyler estate, is an active not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Torrington's rich and diverse history. The museum operates the Torrington History Museum, the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, and the John H. Thompson Library and Archive and also hosts frequent public programs. To learn more about the Society and membership opportunities, please visit www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Make it a Beach Party to Remember! Sheffield Island @ the Beach July 23, 2022 With the Norwalk Seaport Association

Kick-off your sandals, sink your toes in the sand, and grab a cold drink, listen to the music and the sound of the waves because summer 2022 is here. And, what better way to celebrate than with the Norwalk Seaport Association, right on beautiful Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. On Saturday, July 23, the Norwalk Seaport Association is hosting an in-person seaside celebration, Sheffield Island @ The Beach from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Culinary Delights, Signature Drinks, Music & More! 

The Seaport Association has whipped up a recipe for a night to remember! The festivities include delectable specialties from the land and sea by Ripkas Beach Café’s, Chef Clyde, highly esteemed for his culinary creativity. A highlight of Sheffield Island @ the beach will be a Raw Bar of fresh, local clams and oysters that can be washed down with signature cocktails like the Seaport Swizzle, beer, wine, a selection of soft drinks, and infused water. 

The culinary delights don't stop there! For example, delicacies that may be included on the menu for seafood lovers could be mini crab cakes, fried oysters, conch fritters, and, other delights to name a few. Meat lovers aren’t left out and might enjoy mini Cubano bites, coconut curry chicken sate, mini beef kebobs, and more. Vegetarians can indulge at the cheese, crudités, and tapenade tables as well as at the wood-fired pizza station. Many more tantalizing goodies will be served at this amazing beach party that is not to be missed! 

Friends, Sunsets, & Laughter all for a Good Cause 

A beautiful sunset, seeing friends, S'mores on the beach, fire pits, and music add to the convivial ambiance of this seaside celebration. The tickets @ $125 per person are on sale now and are limited to 125 people. Tickets are available online at seaport.org or by calling the Seaport Office at 203-838-9444, so get them today so you don’t miss out on the fun. Proceeds from this event will be used in the maintenance of Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Connecticut’s Maritime Icon. 

About the Seaport Association 

 The Seaport Association in Norwalk was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Seaport Association Receives Funding from CT Humanities For Connecticut Summer @ the Museum

The Seaport Association was awarded a grant from CT Humanities for participating in Connecticut Summer at the Museum 2022 initiative. This program invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free of charge from July 1 through September 5, 2022. Funding for the initiative is provided by the CT General Assembly, with the support of Connecticut Humanities, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the federal ARPA.

“We are very proud to be among the grant recipients,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. “This infusion of funding will help us achieve our mission of education by introducing children from Connecticut, 18 years old and younger to our historic lighthouse and its maritime history that is such an important part of Connecticut’s cultural heritage. We are looking forward to sharing this experience with families from Connecticut this summer.” A day out on the water and a visit to Sheffield Island Lighthouse, a historic museum provides a special opportunity that can positively impact mental health, demonstrably improve learning outcomes among children and youth, and offer positive activities and outlets in many of the neighborhoods, towns, and cities that we serve. As children and students missed out on more than two years of group and school visits to our institutions as part of hands-on, interactive learning, the CT Summer at the Museum Program gives these children and students a chance to experience our maritime heritage and our historic lighthouse on Sheffield Island in Norwalk. The program, that the Seaport Association is participating in invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free of charge from July 1 through September 5, 2022. The Seaport Association is offering a three hour cruise to Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse Museum as part of this program Tuesday- Sun @ 11 am and 3 pm from July 1 – September 5. Reservations must be made in advance online only. There is a limited number of tickets allocated for each day. To make reservations for a cruise to Sheffield Island Lighthouse Museum click here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-sheffield-island-ferry-cruise-tickets-263021834387?aff=CT Tickets are subject to availability. Special events are excluded. Children will enjoy narrated tour on the way to the island and an hour or so of picnicking on the beach or in the new wooden pavilion, touring the historic lighthouse, looking for shells on the beach, and taking a walk to the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge to view the colorful sea birds sheltered in the marshes and sandy shores of the island. If the day is clear, the New York City skyline can be seen. An added bonus is the telescope installed by the Seaport Association that is free to use and affords fabulous views of the Connecticut coastline. About the Seaport Association The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage. About Connecticut Humanities CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org. About Connecticut Office of the Arts The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.