Greenwich Concours d'Elegance: Classic Cars, Aircraft and America's Cup 12-M Yacht

This year's Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, 1 and 2 June at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park will feature an interesting car that defies identification at first - or second or third - glance, baffling even knowledgeable collectors. Its smooth lines, lustrous red paint and Carrozzeria Ghia crest confirm its Italian heritage, but what, exactly, is it?

Selected as the Poster Car for the 2013 Greenwich Concours it is a 1955 Jaguar XK140MC, with a custom aluminum body by Ghia of Turin, Italy. The MC suffix signifies that the engine was upgraded to produce 20 more horsepower, for a total of 220 hp. It was built for Marge and Gower Champion, the Hollywood musical stars, who later sold it to fellow actor, Ricardo Montalban; it is currently owned by Greenwich-collector Michael Schudroff. Thanks to its hand-made aluminum body, the coupe is substantially lighter than a stock XK140. Its greenhouse has slender roof pillars and greater glass area for a bright and airy interior. The greatest owner satisfaction though, comes from the exclusivity and the stir it creates wherever it appears at a gathering of car enthusiasts.

The poster car of the 2013 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance is a 1955 Jaguar XK140MC, with a custom aluminum body by Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin, Italy. Photo by Bruce Wennerstrom

Also making an appearance at the Greenwich Concours this year is Andy Rooney's 1966 Sunbeam Tiger. The outspoken "60 Minutes" television commentator was a passionate "car guy." He lived in Rowayton, Connecticut, and his station car, the 1966 Sunbeam Tiger, was a class of car known at the time as a "hybrid." Not the politically correct electric/gasoline hybrids of today; Rooney's Sunbeam was Brit-built but was powered by a hot 289-hp American Ford V8. Such cars were called hybrids because they combined European coach work with American power trains, an amalgam of Yankee horsepower and sleek European curves. His Sunbeam was a light-weight two-seat sports car, painted, of course, in British Racing Green.America II and Lionheart, the Greenwich-based ex-America's Cup yachts will again be berthed by the Greenwich Concours and will offer two days of match racing. The association of classic cars and America's Cup yachts is appropriate, for the yachts are truly classic, in the same sense that the cars are, being the finest craft that yacht designers, builders and sail makers could create, and conceived for the sole purpose of defending the America's Cup during a series of challenges from sailors of other nations over a period of decades. 

This 1966 Sunbeam Tiger, with a hot 289-hp Ford V8 engine, was the favorite ride of Andy Rooney, the famous "60 Minutes" TV commentator will be shown at the Greenwich Concours. 
Photo by Russ Rocknak

The Greenwich Concours - considered one of the premier concours in the country - is unique.  Since its founding in 1996 it has comprised two separate concours, back-to-back; Saturday's Greenwich Concours Americana features American cars from the 1900's to the present, while Sunday's Greenwich Concours International is exclusively for imported sports, competition and touring cars, again from the 1900's to the present. From the beginning there has been a Best-of-Show trophy for the American cars, and a Best-of-Show for imported cars, with over a hundred classic cars and motorcycles on display each day.

Additionally, Bonhams auction company will hold an auction of rare and important collector cars and automobilia on Sunday, 2 June. The cars offered will be on display for the day prior to the sale and open to prospective bidders and the public.

Automobile Magazine is the Title Sponsor of the Greenwich Concours. Renowned radio host Bob Long, will be broadcasting live from the Concours for two hours each day. AmeriCares, the respected international relief organization, ranked best by Money magazine, is the charitable beneficiary.

In addition to classic Duesenbergs, Pierce-Arrows, Packards, Auburn Speedsters, 16-cylinder Cadillacs, Mercedes 300SL gullwings, and the popular post-war American muscle cars, spectators
can also check out the very latest offerings from the Concours' sponsor companies in a relaxed no-pressure setting. The new-car offerings of BMW, Cadillac, Corvette, Hyundai, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and other sponsor companies will be on display for viewing by show attendees,
plus Chubb Personal Insurance has all the answers for insuring collector cars.

Greenwich Concours Basics
A great attraction of the Greenwich Concours is the stunning beauty of its waterfront site,  Roger Sherman Baldwin Park - a verdant peninsula at the head of Greenwich Harbor - which affords cooling sea breezes and a delightful water-side setting for alfresco lunches.

The Greenwich Concours Americana and the Concours International are open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. The admission is $30 per day, or $45 for a two-day pass, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free, and food service is available on site. The dates for 2013 are 1 and 2 June, rain or shine.

The ease of getting to the Concours also contributes to its popularity, for it's immediately off Exit 3  of I-95, and within a block of the Metro North train station with express service from New York and Boston. And, within walking distance, is Greenwich Avenue - the Rodeo Drive of the East - with all of its many restaurants, antique shops, luxury stores, and numerous boutiques. Hotels, ranging from the modest to ultra-luxe, are also close by, with the Delamar, the host hotel, right at the Concours site.
The Concours web site, www.greenwichconcours.com includes a map, driving directions, and contact information.  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com



Explore the Shore and the Sound at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center

Seaside Center

The Bruce Museum Seaside Center is an environmental and cultural facility located in the Innis Arden Cottage on Greenwich Point, one of the East Coast's most scenic coastlines. During summer months, Seaside Center personnel encourage Point visitors to drop-in and explore the local shore and marine life.

Daily activities at the Seaside Center may include guided nature walks which incorporate the geology and ecology of Greenwich Point; study and identification of Greenwich Point flora and fauna; marine organism anatomy dissections; plankton viewing with microscopes; arts and crafts; and much more!

Guests can also enjoy the Seaside Center's facilities at their own leisurely pace viewing the dioramas, interactive exhibits, and live specimens in the marine-life touch tank and aquariums.

Open through September 2, with special events scheduled throughout the year, regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Beach passes are required for entrance into Greenwich Point. Fees for non-residents are $5 per person plus $20 for parking. For additional information call the Bruce Museum at 203 869-0376 or visit the website at www.brucemuseum.org.

Greenwich Historical Society Bike Tour of Greenwich Point

Pond at Greenwich Point with Tod Mansion in Background circa 1935, Collection of Greenwich Historical Society

The Greenwich Historical Society will sponsor a "Greenwich Point History on Wheels" family bike tour on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Join them  to explore the rich history of Greenwich Point and learn how an idyllic 19th century island estate (complete with private golf course), built by millionaire J. Kennedy Tod on the original 1640 Greenwich founder's Elizabeth Neck, evolved into the fabulous recreational Town park it is today.

Participants will engage with local historians stationed throughout the park to learn about the original beachfront golf course; about the groundbreaking architect who designed the award-winning (newly restored) Innis Arden Cottage; about the humble origins of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club; about the historic "Chimes Building" uses; why the Eagle statue stands guard over the estate's pond and much, much more. As you cycle through the tour, you'll stop along the way to hear stories, take a closer look at some of the ruins, and see vintage photos from the Historical Society's collection that capture snapshots from different eras. Kids will enjoy their very own scavenger hunt as part of the tour. Don't miss the chance to learn more about this beloved fixture of the Greenwich landscape and how it evolved over time.

"Greenwich Point History on Wheels" is being held in conjunction with the "Experience the Sound" celebration co-sponsored by the Greenwich Shellfish Commission and To The Point whose aim is to expand the community's awareness of coastal marine life, nature, outdoor recreational pursuits and the environment by showcasing local organizations .and education institutions that care for and promote them.

Participants will gather at the first parking lot on the right after entering the park.  The tour is open to bike-riding singles, families and children over seven years old who are able to ride a bicycle. Bring bikes and wear bike helmets (water bottles also recommended). Tours will begin at 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. To reserve a space, or for additional info, please call 203-869-6899, Ext. 10. For more information visit http://www.hstg.org. For area information visit http://www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Coming Full Circle: Greenwich Art Society Celebrates 100 Years at the Bruce Museum

Neapolitan Fisherboy by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux. On the occasion of its Centennial this year, the Bruce Museum is mounting an exhibition of recent and promised gifts to the permanent collection. Featuring paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints and photographs, the show spans the ages – offering a variety of examples including the Old Masters, American paintings and Contemporary art – and reflects the diversity of taste among local collectors and supporters of the Museum. According to Executive Director Peter Sutton, the exhibition highlights the remarkable donations received in recent years. "The Museum has benefitted from collectors who are as generous as they are discerning." The splendidly tranquil luminist landscape, Sunlight on Newbury Marshes, by the American 19th-century painter Martin Johnson Heade underscores the truth of this observation; as do the 19th-century European works Faun and Bacchante by William-Adolphe Bouguereau and a fine bronze sculpture of a Neapolitan Fisherboy by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux. Gifts of Modern and Contemporary sculpture have been especially welcome and include the intimately scaled maquette by Henry Moore as well as large-scale works like Robert Rauschenberg's  Greyhound Nightmare sculpture and the promised gift of the exuberantly monumental Keith Haring sculpture Untitled (Three Dancing Figures) Version A. The fastest growing collections at the Bruce are of works on paper, which include recent donations of pieces by Signac and Cuevas, and one of O. Winston Link's most famous photos, Hotshot Eastbound. Sutton notes that the permanent art collection of the Bruce Museum includes more than 15,000 objects representing a wide variety of world cultures, with special strengths in American and European art. "These are essential to the many object-based educational programs offered at the Museum and serve to inspire the shows that we organize." Installed in the Arcade Gallery, the exhibition will be presented in two successive shows of approximately 50 objects each. The first show will be on view through July 8. The second show opens July 21.

Explore Art and Science at the Bruce Museum. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm; closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students up to 22 years, $6 for seniors and free for members and children under 5 years. Individual admission is free on Tuesday. Free on-site parking is available and the Museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Bruce Museum is located at One Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. For additional information, call (203 869-0376) or visit the website (www.brucemuseum.org).

“Turtle Family Day” at The Bruce Museum Dec. 11

The Bruce Museum celebrates the International Year of the Turtle with "Turtle Family Day" on Sunday, December 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Fun-filled activities for the entire family include explorations of the Museum's natural history galleries in search of turtles and turtle-themed crafts in the Education Workshop.

The afternoon event features a live "Turtle and Tortoise" program at 3:00 p.m. presented by Erik Callender of Erik's Reptile Edventures. Erik and his crew work with turtles from around the world including the African Spur Thighed Tortoise, Chinese Box Turtle, Mata Mata Turtle from South America, and Gopher Tortoise from the southeastern United States.

All activities are suitable for people of all abilities, ages 5 years and up, and are free with Museum admission. The Bruce Museum is located at 1 Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students. Bruce Museum members are free. For information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376, or visit the Bruce Museum website at brucemuseum.org.

HawkWatch and Hawkwatch Festival & Green Bazaar at Greenwich Audubon Through Nov. 20

Each autumn, 17 species of hawks, eagles and vultures, migrate southwest over Quaker
Ridge's scenic hilltops in northern Greenwich.

The fields are one of the highest locations in town and the sweeping views are an excellent vantage point for spotting birds. On clear days in September when winds are from the North, birders may count a few thousand broad-winged hawks as they swirl in 'kettles' before heading South along migration routes.

In the late 1960's, birders searched Fairfield County for the best sites where large numbers of migrating raptors could be observed. Over several years, more than a dozen sites were tested on weekends and in the end, it was determined that the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch at Audubon Greenwich, was the best site in the area.

Ever since 1972, migrating hawks have been officially counted as they pass over Quaker Ridge (a.k.a. Hawk Watch Lawn). As part of the network of hawk watch locations nationwide, the Greenwich Audubon Society hired a full-time hawk watcher in 1985.The Official Hawk Counter staffs the site 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday, from August 20-November 20, each year.

On weekends, volunteer counters help to staff the site. Anyone is welcome to volunteer to become a counter at the Audubon's Hawk Watch. The more eyes the better because the seasonal counts average 18,000 raptors. You don't need to be able to identify the hawks. Greenwich Audubon simply needs eyes watching the skies! In fact, some of the best spotters are beginners that know very little about identification. Volunteers count and record the data and then, researchers can try to gauge the health of Northeastern raptor populations.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Greenwich Audubon Center during this exciting time of year and to ask questions, talk with volunteers, and enjoy counting eagles, hawks, and falcons from Hawk Watch Lawn.

For detailed data about raptor sightings at Greenwich, visit www.hawkcount.org.

Hawkwatch Festival & Green Bazaar October 1 & 2

Coming up on October 1 & 2, at the peak of the migration spectacle, Greenwich Audubon will host the 'HawkWatch Weekend Festival & Green Bazaar' that will feature two days of live birds of prey and animal shows, hands-on nature education, bird workshops, activities for kids, eco-shopping, food, and more! Festival is Rain or Shine from 11 am-5 pm. Admission is $7 for youth/$10 for adults (New or current Audubon Members: $5 for youth / $7 for adults). $35 National Audubon Society family memberships will be available at the Festival Gate.

For more information visit http://greenwich.audubon.org. To learn more about exhibiting or the schedule, call Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239.



About the Audubon Center at Audubon Greenwich

The Audubon Center in Greenwich opened in 1942 as the National Audubon Society's first environmental education center in the United States on land donated by Eleanor Clovis Reese and H. Hall Clovis. The 295-acre sanctuary has approximately seven miles of trails that lead to a hardwood forest, old fields, lake, streams and vernal ponds. Reminders of the past are the stone walks, an old apple orchard and original New England homestead buildings. Audubon Greenwich's main sanctuary is the site located at 613 Riversville Road, which is comprised of 285 acres, with 7 miles of walking trails. There you will find the Kimberlin Nature Education Center building with exhibits, staff offices and classrooms. The Center contains the Hilfiger Children's Learning Center with hands-on nature activities and interpretive natural history exhibits, the Kiernan Hall Nature Art Gallery, a Wildlife Viewing Window and honey bee hive exhibit, a Nature Gift Store: books, binoculars, birdfeeders, gifts. The Kimberlin Center is also available for event rentals and children's parties. Audubon Greenwich is comprised of 11 other sanctuaries totaling 686 acres of woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, and 15 additional miles of hiking trails.