Valentine's Day Ideas

If the winter doldrums have set in, a welcome cure is in sight...Valentine's Day! Whether you want to get out on the ski slopes or retreat to a fireside, the inns and resorts of Connecticut's Fairfield County and Litchfield Hills are offering a host of special packages for Valentine's Day.

It's a Sweet Deal for Sweethearts at the Shelton Inn Hampton on 695 Bridgeport Ave. minutes off Rte. 8.  They invite you to celebrate this Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart and are offering a romantic evening for two that includes deluxe king bed accommodations for one night for two, a complimentary breakfast for two, a $50 gift certificate to Vazzy's Cucina Restaurant (free shuttle service) and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.  This offer is available Feb. 8-17.  To reserve 203-925-5900 (use promo code PDK) or www.hamptoninnshelton.com.

Hampton Inn

It’s Valentine’s Day all year round at the Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Center.  Their “Stay in Love in Stamford Romance Package” includes your choice of wine or sparkling juice upon arrival*, a $25 food and beverage credit, and more. Visitors must book at least three days prior to arrival and stay a minimum of two nights. Rates start at $149. To book your room call (203) 967-2222 or www.hiltonstamfordhotel.com.

Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Center

For a fun Valentine’s Day getaway try the “Stay Here, Play There NYC Train Package” at the award winning Sheraton Stamford Hotel. The package includes overnight Stamford accommodations from $156 per night, two adult round trip Metro North train tickets from the Stamford station to Grand Cental, complimentary shuttle service to/from the hotel and Stamford station and Breakfast for two in restaurant 700 Main.  To reserve call 203-358-8400 or visit http://deals.sheraton.com/Sheraton-Stamford-Hotel-3616/so.htm

Sheraton Stamford Hotel

The Bridgeport Holiday Inn on 1070 Main Street is offering a Valentine’s Day Package for $214 that includes a champagne toast on arrival with a chocolate heart, a gourmet 4 course dinner for two, an overnight stay in a deluxe king bedded guest room and free validated parking.  This package is only available on Feb. 14. To reserve your spot call (203) 334-1234 or http://www.hibridgeport.com.

Bridgeport Holiday Inn

The Hilton Garden Inn Norwalk is offering a Valentine's Day Package through Feb 28 that offers luxurious overnight accommodations for two, chilled bottle of champagne, gourmet chocolates and a full American breakfast at the Great American Grill all for $109.  To reserve your room call 203-523-4000 or http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/connecticut/hilton-garden-inn-norwalk-ORQNWGI/index.html.

Hilton Garden Norwalk

The Hyatt Regency in Greenwich is offering a romance package at their newly renovated hotel that is sure to provide an unforgettable setting with all the romantic touches.  The romance package offers breakfast buffet for two in Winfield's, champagne delivered to room upon arrival, complimentary valet parking for (1) vehicle, evening turndown service, and 3 p.m. late checkout for just $20 more than the rate of the day.  This package is available through 12/30/2013. To reserve call 203-409-4340 or http://www.greenwich.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-greenwich/offers/details.jsp?offerId=103003&isBookable=true.

Hyatt Regency Greenwich

If you are a fan of Love Potion # 9 you might want to book at stay at Rock Hall Luxe Lodging on 19 Rock Hall Road in Colebrook that is offering a Love Potion #19 Valentine's Package. Add this Valentine's package to your luxurious accommodation, and receive a romantic fireside essential oil Couple's Massage, afternoon "Snowball" cocktails, and a hand's on session with Rock Hall's herbalist to create a unique love potion, a pair of imported Turkish towels, and a Rock Hall cocktail shaker. The package is $475 with the purchase of accommodation and is available Feb. 8-17.  To book this call 860-379-2230 or visit www.19rockhallroad.com

Rock Hall

The fabulous Falls Village Inn located in the heart of historic Falls Village is not only creating a special menu for Valentines Day they are offering a Hooray For Love package that includes an overnight stay in a luxury king room with private bath, a complimentary welcome bottle of Falls Village Inn Signature Label Wine, corkscrew and glassware for two, a sample of locally made chocolate & nuts, and continental breakfast for two.  Rates start at $209 and the package is available from Feb. 14 – Feb. 17.  For more information call 860-824-0033 or visit www.thefallsvillageinn.com

Falls Village Inn

Overlooking the Farmington River, The Old Riverton Inn on Rte. 20 in Riverton is offering a Valentine’s Cupid County Inn Romance overnight package on Feb. 14 only Overnight accommodations, flowers, candy and bottle of champagne in your room, plus a romantic valentine’s candle light dinner for two and a full country breakfast in the morning make this package a delight.  Rates start at $230 for a small room or $270 for a large room, all decorated with Hitchcock furniture. To book your room call 860-379-8678 or www.rivertoninn.com.

Old Riverton Inn

The Heritage in Southbury’s Be My Valentine package offers a perfect getaway and includes overnight accommodations for two, a complimentary bottle of moscato champagne delivered to your room, dinner for two in the elegant Heritage room, and access to amenities such as the heated indoor pool/whirlpool, sauna & steam rooms.  Rates start at $179 and are available only on Feb. 14.  For more information call 1-800-932-3466 or www.heritagesouthbury.com.

Heritage

On February 9 Interlaken Inns’ Valentine's Day Package offers a red rose for her, a cozy and romantic night away, plus a fabulous dinner with to live music throughout dinner, then - dancing to the region's premiere 13-piece Big Band.  The complete package offers a three-course dinner for 2, Glass of house wine or cocktail for each of you, A red rose for her, Dancing, Overnight accommodations for 2, Breakfast for 2. Complete Valentine's Day Package is $279 per couple (total package is $334.98 per couple including tax and service charge).  To book call 1-800-222-2909 or visit www.interlakeninn.com.

Sunnyside at Interlaken Inn

Litchfield Inn is celebrating February for Lovers month and is offering a romance package for the entire month that includes deluxe overnight accommodations, a three course dinner at Bantam Bistro, bottle of Sunset Meadows Wine and cheese, lovers dessert platter delivered to your room and breakfast for two.  The cost is $359 per couple and can be booked by calling (860) 567-4503 or visiting www.litchfieldinnct.com.

Litchfield Inn

The stately Mayflower Inn located in the heart of Washington is offering a Valentine’s Day package on Feb. 14 that includes a very special Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 (exclusive of beverages), a Bottle of champagne in room upon arrival and Continental Breakfast.  Rates start at $950.00 and Suites at $1,250.00.  To book call 860-868-9466 or www.mayflowerinn.com.

Mayflower Inn

In Southbury, Valentine's Day at Crowne Plaza Southbury is being celebrated on Feb. 14 – 16 in style.  Enjoy a scrumptious dinner and relaxing overnight stay with your sweetheart at the Crowne Plaza Southbury. The  package includes deluxe overnight accommodations, Special Valentine's Dinner for two in the Arrowhead Restaurant, and a full breakfast buffet the next morning all for $199.  Call 203-598-7600 or http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/southbury/hvnsb/hoteldetail.

Crowne Plaza Southbury

New England’s oldest house tour, Open House Day in Litchfield, Connecticut, July 14

Litchfield Center On the National Register of Historic Places (Photo J. McElholm)

Litchfield celebrates its 65^th anniversary on Saturday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the rare chance to visit five prize private properties in the early New England town that is famous for its grand and elegant homes. An impressive roster of homes with architectural and historical distinction is being assembled for this special year. Proceeds benefit Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR), an organization dedicated to helping troubled youths.

The Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, the first law school in America, will also be included in the admission price of the Tour.  The History Museum is featuring a new exhibition, The Hour of Conflict; marking the anniversary of the Civil War by examining the ways the war im­pacted the residents of Litchfield in the 1860s. The museum will also feature a juried art show sponsored by the Litchfield Visual Arts.

Tapping Reeve House and Law School

 

A Preview Tour will be offered Friday, July 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by a cocktail reception in a private home.

Litchfield Aid of CJR, an organization founded in 1911 by 12 Litchfield women to help support the programs and facilities of the Connecticut Junior Republic, sponsors the annual tour.

HOUSE TOUR INFORMATION

The self-guided house tour begins at 10 a.m. on July 14 the Information Booth on the Litchfield Green, where tickets may be purchased for $35. Advance purchase tickets, $30, may be ordered by mail from Litchfield Aid of CJR, P.O. Box 214, Litchfield, Connecticut 06759.  A stamped, self-addressed envelope should be included with credit card information (Mastercard or Visa only), check or money order, made payable to Litchfield Aid of CJR.  Ticket information for the Preview Tour and Party may be obtained by calling the Connecticut Junior Republic, 869-567-9423.

For details of the 65^th Annual Open House Tour and ticket information for the Preview Tour and Party, contact the Connecticut Junior Republic at (860) 567-9423, between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM, or visit www.litchfieldct.com/cjr/tour.html. 

For information about nearby events and a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to lodging, dining and all the attractions in the Litchfield Hills, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, or visit their web site at www.litchfieldhills.com

Study Cruise Aboard the Oceanic

Study Cruise Aboard the Oceanic

Share a memorable boat ride with crabs, fish, lobsters and other creatures brought up right out of Long Island Sound right before your eyes during daily study cruises this summer with The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

The Aquarium’s exciting Marine Life Study Cruises will begin their daily schedule on July 1, departing at 1 p.m. each day through Labor Day. (In June, they push off at 1 p.m. on Saturdays.)

During each 2^1/2-hour Marine Life Study Cruise aboard the research vessel Oceanic, animals are collected from different water levels and bottom habitats of the Sound. A video microscope provides a magnified look at wriggly plankton gathered at the sunlit surface. Tiny crabs and worms emerge from a sampling of the anaerobic muddy bottom. A biodredge reveals a hidden world of sponges, snails and mollusks.  And everyone inspects the trawl net’s bounty – varieties of fish and crabs, lobsters, sea stars, squid and always a few surprises.

The outings are much more than a boat ride. Maritime Aquarium educators involve participants in the processes, from sorting through samples to helping to pull in the trawl net and returning animals to the water. These animal encounters have immediate and incredible value in showing participants that the Sound is very much alive and worthy of our protection.

Besides being fun and eye-opening, Marine Life Study Cruises also contribute to local scientific research. Water-chemistry and weather readings are taken. And details about the animals brought onboard are entered into the Aquarium’s Long Island Sound Biodiversity Project, a database on the physical and biological features of the Sound. The database, available online for teachers and researchers, will reveal any changes in the Sound over time.

Also during the study cruises, as part of a Horseshoe Crab Census conducted by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, The Maritime Aquarium tags and records data about all horseshoe crabs collected.

Cost of a Marine Life Study Cruise is $20.50 per person ($18.50 for Maritime Aquarium members).  All passengers must be at least 42 inches tall. Reservations are strongly recommended; walk-up tickets will be sold space permitting. The Oceanic can accommodate 29 passengers. Marine Life Study Cruises also are available for private 9 a.m. charters for summer camps, Scouts and other groups. Cruises depart from the dock near the Aquarium’s IMAX Theater entrance.

To reserve your spot on a Maritime Aquarium Marine Life Study Cruise, or for more details, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206. For more information visit www.MaritimeAquarium.org.  For regional information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

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).

Quassy Amusement Park Opens April 28, 2012!

Tea Cup Ride - New This Year! Quassy Amusement Park is putting a new spin on family fun when the lakeside facility opens on April 28. A tea cup ride from Italian manufacturer Zamperla will be introduced at Quassy for the park's 104th year. The ride features six family-sized cups with individually controlled spinning action all revolving on a rotating platform. The end result will be an interactive, fun experience for all age groups. The new ride will be located adjacent to Quassy's Carousel Court and ice cream parlor. Quassy will feature its traditional $35 carload weekend special April 28 and 29. The price includes all-day ride wristbands from noon to 6 p.m. for up to 10 persons in a vehicle. The parking fee is included. The carload special continues the weekend of May 5 and 6. The annual Egg Hunt for Prizes returns to Quassy at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 29. Youngsters are split up into age groups to hunt for candy and eggs in the great lawn area of the park. Toddlers participate in a goody bag version held at the Carousel Theatre stage. Quassy will also kick off its annual "Ready To Read" program the first two weekends with meet and greet sessions by young reader favorites "Biscuit" and "Clifford" The Big Red Dog. "Biscuit," courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers, will be on hand at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. April 28 and 29. "Clifford," courtesy of Scholastic Books, has the same schedule on May 5 and 6. Coastermania Wooden Warrior