Sharon Audubon Festival in Litchfield Hills

The Sharon Audubon located on Rte. 4 in the bucolic hamlet of Sharon Connecticut is hosting its' 46th annual Audubon Festival on August 10 and 11. Gates to the festival open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. each day.  Admission to the event is $5 per person or $20 per car load. 

The Audubon Festival that takes place in the northwest corner of the Litchfield Hills features fun and interactive ways families can learn about nature. The staff of the Audubon have scheduled two full days of nature walks and programs, live animal presentations, and children's activities that will engage kids and teach them about nature in addition to food, music, exhibits and a select number of vendors.

Scheduled programs such as Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe, a Tree Identification Walk, Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees, Bird Banding, making Pressed Flower Bookmarks and much more will take place at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. each day.  The Festival will also host a number of ongoing activities such as the children’s Merry Marsh Activity Tent.

There will be two keynote presentations that will take place each day that is perfect for everyone whether they are a seasoned naturalist or a young explorer.  At 1:00pm on Saturday, storyteller Eshu Bumpus will present his engaging “Folktales,” sure to please young and old alike. A highlight of the day will take place at 3:30 p.m. when there will be a falconry demonstration by Brian Bradley of Skyhunters in Flight.

On Sunday, at 1 p.m. “Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures that feature 10-12 animals from all corners of the world will entertain festivalgoers.  The grand finale of the festival will be an appearance by Atka the Wolf from Wolf Conservation Center at 3:30 p.m.

For up to the minute information on the festival visit www.sharon.audubon.orgwww.sharon.audubon.org by August 1^st or by calling 860-364-0520 for more information.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Summer Exhibits at Silvermine Arts Center

Kite Charles Hinman and Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein

Silvermine Arts Center, located in New Canaan, CT will be kicking off its summer exhibitions with an exciting collaboration of works by Charles Hinman and Gary Lichtenstein, and new works by Guild Artist Christ Durante. Silvermine's new Viewing Room features presentations of new works on paper by Guild Artists Roger Mudre and Robert Gregson. The exhibitions will open on Sunday, July 28th with a reception from 2pm-4pm, and will run through September 7th.

"Kites" features the latest collaborative silkscreens between three dimensional painting pioneer Charles Hinman and Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein. A working relationship which began in 2011 with their prints Gems, this latest body of work continues their exploration into translating the visual vocabulary of Hinman's signature hard-edged shaped canvas into the realm of prints. By combining a mutual understanding of color and the use of subtle hand embossing, they have created a suite of prints that epitomizes the core of Hinman's ideology: "Though the works at first glance appear serene and placid, they are ever changing as the surface of the ocean or the expanse of the sky. Ever dynamic, they are ever alive."

A prime example of this idea can be seen in Kite 2. At first glance, the silkscreen faithfully reconstructs Hinman's paintings down to the inclusion of subtle lines referencing the support system of his three dimensional work. As the viewer gazes at the work, the true complexity of its arrangement of space unfolds into an ever changing visual experience that expands upon Mr. Hinman's longstanding commitment to visual perceptions of space.

In his new exhibit "No Mans Land," Guild Artist Chris Durante has constructed an environment of what he calls "considered hanging," where viewers can visually and physically traverse his works. An artist who is never satisfied with making work that neatly fits into prescribed categories, Durante continually explores and blurs the lines between mediums and artistic genres. Using a combination of paintings, drawings,graffiti, found objects and a collection of other materials, Durante creates a space that furthers his exploration of boundaries into a visual experience, creating a thought provoking space, a "place of freedom," if you will, where viewers can explore ideas. About his work, Chris comments, "The inability to couple a thought with a sustained and focused action can be an asset if one can be patient and accept that condition as temporary. Let the mind wander and the hand fiddle. Attention is a slippery proposition. The unison of idea and craft will come, eventually."

Drawing - Robert Gregson

Silvermine's new Viewing Room, will present works by Guild Artists Roger Mudre and Robert Gregson. A selection of new abstract silkscreens by Roger Mudre which were produced in collaboration with Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein and an installation of recently created optically fetching geometric drawings by Robert Gregson will be featured through the summer. For more information about the exhibitions and other upcoming events at Silvermine Arts Center call 203-966-9700 or visit our website at www.sivermineart.org.

About Silvermine Arts Center

Silvermine Arts Center located in New Canaan, Connecticut is one of the oldest artist communities in the United States. Located on a four acre campus, the center consists of a nationally renowned artist guild, award winning school of art offering multi-disciplinary art classes for all ages, an art and fine crafts shop and galleries, offering over twenty contemporary and historic exhibitions annually.

The center also provides innovative free and subsidized arts education in Norwalk and Stamford schools through its outreach program, Art Partners; and hosts a lecture series, performances, and special programs throughout the year. Silvermine Arts Center is a nonprofit organization.

Gallery Hours: Silvermine Galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday, 12p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1pm to 5 p.m. For more information, call (203) 966-9700 ext. 20 or visit the website: www.silvermineart.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

One of the world's most popular modern-dance troupes accoring to the New York Times that is "famous for its wit and sensuality." is hosting an Summer Ball where guests are invited to drink, dine, mingle, bid and dance the night away!

This is one of the "hottest" parties in Litchfield Hills of the summer season. On Saturday, June 30, on the great lawn at Quatre Vents in Washington, join the Litchfield Friends of Pilobolus under the stars to celebrate Connecticutʼs preeminent arts organization a cultural gem in the Litchifeld Hills.

This yearʼs benefit gala is destined to be the largest yet after their record breaking Ball last summer. The evening includes dinner by Kentʼs own Millstone Café and Bakery, an open bar generously provided by Pernod Ricard USA and of course, dancing. The Pilobolus Dancers will delight guests with three unique, palate-whetting performances created exclusively for the Ball.

This yearʼs live auction highlights contain a VIP Jets Package, an African Safari, a Trip to Tuscany, an Exclusive Dinner with the Dancers of Pilobolus as well as the coveted Walklyndon Walk-on at The Joyce Theater this summer.

Funds from the Pilobolus Ball go to support the creation of new dances and Pilobolusʼ educational programming, which serves people of all ages and backgrounds, including severely underserved communities. Pilobolusʼ mission is to promote access to creativity, collaboration, and productivity in groups of all kinds.

Individual Tickets: $250. Table packages available starting at $2,500. Tickets are available by visiting www.Pilobolus.org or call 860‐868‐0538 x 16.  The Pilobolus Dance Theater is located on 6 Calhoun St., PO Box 388, Washington Depot, CT. For lodging information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

About Pilobolus Dance Theater

Pilobolus began in 1971, as an outsider dance company, and has evolved into a pioneering American arts organization of the 21st century. Most recently the company has been nominated for a 2012 GRAMMY Award for Best Short Form Music Video for ALL IS NOT LOST, a collaboration with the rock band OK Go. The company now revolves around three centers of activity: PILOBOLUS DANCE THEATER, the umbrella for a series of radically innovative and globally acclaimed concert dance companies; THE PILOBOLUS INSTITUTE, unique educational programming for schools, colleges, and public arts organizations as well as a series of classes and leadership workshops for corporate executives, employees, and business schools; and PILOBOLUS CREATIVE SERVICES, a division specializing in a wide range of movement services for film, advertising, publishing, commercial clients, and corporate events. The company is based in Washington Depot, Connecticut and performs for stage and television audiences all over the world. For more info, please visit www.Pilobolus.org.

Earth Day Celebrations Provide Plenty of Family Fun!

Party for the Planet at Beardsley Zoo

Earth Day, originating in 1970 has continued to grow and evolve throughout the United States.  This movement lead to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act. Today, Earth Day is an important focal point for people world-wide to demonstrate their commitment to the environment.  In Connecticut there are many Earth Day events to choose from.

Celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22 with a visit to Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens and view their beautiful grounds and listen to some incredible jazz from 2PM to 4 PM.   This concert will feature a performance by four renowned Jazz performers; guitarist Gene Bertoncini and special guests drummer Joe Corsella; violinist Sara Caswell and bassist Michael Moore.  Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members; space is limited. Call 203-322-6971 or visit www.bartlettarboretum.org.

The Sharon Audubon Center on 325 Cornwall Bridge Rd. in Sharon CT is hosting a free session at 2:00 PM on Rain Gardens and why every drop of water counts.  Participants will learn why you should plant a rain garden and how one can help your property and the environment. To register for this event, or for more information call 860-364-0520 or visit www.sharon.audubon.org.

The Darien Nature Center located on 120 Brookside Rd. will celebrate Earth Day with the Opening Reception of Earthworks, a collaborative exhibit by area artists Heidi Lewis Coleman, Lucy Krupenye and Nancy Woodward and curated by Ann Hart. The reception will be held on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and will be on view through June 8th in the Nature Center’s Wetherstone Gallery.  In this stunning exhibit inspired by nature, each artist pays homage to the beauty of the current, the remnants of the past and the wonder of the unknown future. The assembled works are a celebration of nature’s simplicities and complexities. For more information call 203-655-7459 or visit www.dariennaturecenter.org.

 At the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Rd. in Washington, visitors are invited to celebrate Earth Day with Atka, a live artic gray wolf at 1PM. Atka is being welcomed back from the Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, N.Y. and is their oldest and most traveled ambassador wolf.  The center staff will share facts, history and dispel many misconceptions about wolves and our role in protecting the future of wolves. There is limited seating so reserve and pay in advance. The fee is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. For information, call 860-868-0518 or visit www.iaismuseum.org.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo located on 1875 Noble Ave in Bridgeport is celebrating Earth Day by throwing a Party for the Planet! As part of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the Zoo is offering environmental education activities, amazing animal encounters, and fun for the whole family. This conservation themed bash will take place on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm and will shine a light on initiatives that make our planet a more sustainable place to live. This event is FREE with paid admission to the Zoo. For more information visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children on 303 West Ave. in Norwalk, is celebrating Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, with drop-in activities in the Community Garden 10 am – 1 pm. Go on a nature scavenger hunt, experiment with tools to measure weather, paint en plein air and plant seeds to take home and watch grow. At 11 am the museum presents The Attainable Sustainable Energy Show, a wacky, action-packed live science show that will inspire excitement in renewable energy. Free with $15 museum admission. For more information, call (203) 899-0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

6th Annual Watertown CT House Tour Saturday September 24th

The 6th Annual Watertown House Tour will take place on Saturday September 24th from 11am to 3pm, rain or shine. Five fabulous homes will be featured in this year's tour including The Hickcox House at 235 Main Street, The Woodward House at 126 North Street, The Long House at 241 Woodbury Road, The Guernsey Davis House at 141 Merriam Lane, and Trillium at 2579 Litchfield Road. The Watertown Historical Society Museum and the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street will also be open for viewing.

The Watertown House Tour is a benefit for the Watertown Historical Society Museum. The Watertown Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Watertown and Oakville's history through the Museum.

Advance tickets are $25 per person, and will be $30 the day of the tour. Tickets for this self-guided house tour are non-refundable & can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to: Watertown House Tour, c/o 107 Vaill Road, Watertown, CT 06795.Checks should be made payable to the "Watertown Historical Society". Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card at: www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org

All tickets and maps will be mailed to those that purchase advance tickets, starting at the beginning of September. Advance orders must be received no later than Friday September 16th. Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the Museum.

Tickets will soon be available at the beginning of September at the following retail locations: LaBonne's Market in Watertown, Chubba's, the Health Complex, The Watertown and Oakville Libraries, Hosking's Nursery, Depot Square Farm Shoppe, Jimmy's of Watertown and at the Watertown Fall Festival.

On the day of the tour tickets will be available at all of the businesses, all of the houses and at the Museum, which will be tour headquarters. Call the Museum at 860-274-1050 or view www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Fine Fare, Friends & Fun in The Litchfield Hills at the 26 Annual Taste of The Litchfield Hills Sept. 3-5

Connecticut's Oldest Food and Wine Festival Announces Menu for Labor Day Weekend.

From comfort food to gourmet dishes and from live entertainment to a shopping bazaar, you and your friends will enjoy a menu of fine fare and fun at the 26th Annual Taste of The Litchfield Hills.
Connecticut's oldest food and wine festival will be held on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, 2011, at its new location, Ski Sundown, 126 Ratlum Road, New Hartford.

Each year, since 1985, the festival has attracted thousands of guests for a sampling of the region's food and wine, plus upscale shopping and live entertainment.

This year's menu will feature such dishes as Angus beef sliders, baked mac and cheese, cedar plank roasted salmon, corn and Maine blue crab fritters, cherry-smoked chicken, fried goat cheese salad, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled pizza, Lao crispy egg rolls, lobster salad sliders, mesquite-smoked pulled pork, New England clam chowder, seared scallops & braised short ribs, sesame chicken, shrimps in a blanket and many other delicious delicacies.

Sweet offerings will include apple cider cinnamon donuts, banana & toffee pie, dessert crepes, fruit smoothies, New England kettle corn, pumpkin chiffon roulade and many other delectable desserts. Northwest Community Bank is sponsoring an Internet download link for the complete 2011 Menu at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com.

Foodies will enjoy "grazing-sized" portions of house specialties prepared by chefs from regional restaurants, bistros and other purveyors of fine food with prices ranging from $4.00 to $8.00 per item. Table seating will be available in the festival's Culinary Tent, at outdoor picnic tables and inside the air-conditioned ski lodge. Plus, guests are invited to picnic on the grounds with their own lawn chairs and blankets.

Participating culinary vendors include Chatterley's Restaurant (New Hartford); Backstage Restaurant (Torrington); Faddy's Donuts & Ice Cream (Bloomfield); Farm Restaurant (Avon); The Foothills Delery (Pine Meadow); The Green Papaya (Canton); The Green Room (Winsted); Little Sister's Grilled Cheese (New London); Indochine Pavilion (New Haven); Infinity Bistro (Norfolk); KJ' Grilled Pizza (Torrington); Mustard's Last Stand (New Hartford); Rocket Fine Street Foods (Torrington) and Summertime Sno-Balls (New Hartford).

The festival will offer wine by the glass from Litchfield Hills wineries, including Hopkins Vineyard (New Preston), Jerram Winery (New Hartford), Miranda Vineyard (Goshen), Sunset Meadow Vineyards (Goshen) and White Silo Winery (Sherman). Thomas Hooker draught beer, plus a variety of soft drinks will also be served.

New this year is the The Farmers Market which will showcase locally grown and raised foods. Barden Farm, Hayes Dairy, Marwin Farms and other family farms located in the Litchfield Hills will offer native fare to enjoy at the festival and to take home.

Live entertainment will include country singer-songwriter Courtney Drummey (Saturday, 1-4 p.m.), oldies band The Rockin' Hearbeats (Saturday, 5-8 pm), jazz recording artists The Christine & Elliot Spero Duo (Sunday, 1-4 p.m.), blues artists The Andy James Band (Sunday, 5-8 p.m.) and jam band Flipper Dave (Monday, 1-4 p.m.).

Festival goers will also enjoy an upscale shopping experience in the festivals' outdoor bazaar featuring such unique gift items as artisan-crafted jewelry, gourmet food products, kitchenware and other products and services.

Hours for A Taste of the Litchfield Hills will be 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 3 & 4, 2011, and 12 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. Ticket prices are Adult (age 12-64): $10 On-Site or $8 Advance Purchase; Senior (age 65+): $8 On-Site or $6 Advance Purchase; and Child (Under 12): Free admission. Advance tickets and more information is available at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com. Admission does not include food and beverage, which is purchased separately.

Ski Sundown is located at 126 Ratlum Hill in the charming riverside town of New Harford, Conn., just a few minutes from the intersection of Routes 44 & 219.  This central location makes this Taste of Litchfield Hills Festival an easy day-trip from Albany, The Berkshires, Hartford, The Hudson Valley, Metro New York, New Haven and Springfield.

With its antique shops, art galleries, covered bridges and quaint villages, the Litchfield Hills is an ideal get away destination for this three-day holiday weekend. Lodging optionsin the Litchfield Hills include dozens of charming bed and breakfasts, cozy country inns, and world class resorts, hotels and motels. 



For more information on where to stay and what to do visit: www.litchfieldhills.com

Feast Of Colorful Quilts Awaits In Norwalk, Connecticut

Those who love the homespun beauty of quilts have a feast in store, as seven local arts and cultural institutions join in a unique collaboration to form the Norwalk Quilt Trail, a series of exhibits from May through mid-November in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The Quilt Trail spotlights 100 quilts made and collected in Norwalk. Together, the colorful quilts tell the story of the life and the changing fortunes of this area, from the early 1800s to the maritime era in the mid-1850s to 1900s machine age to the present.

The settings for the exhibits also represent many eras, from the Rowayton Historical Society's Pinkney House (c. 1820) to the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, which opened in 2000. The full list includes the Norwalk Historical Society, the Norwalk Museum, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. Related exhibits will be presented at City Hall and local libraries. Each exhibit has a story to tell.

A VARIETY OF THEMES

A Common Thread: Family History Told through Quilting at the Rowayton Historical Society illustrates how quilts chronicled family life, telling stories of family love, loss and community in embroidered, patchwork and appliqué quilts, including a signature quilt from one of Norwalk's oldest families, the Raymonds.  The influences introduced during the boom years of Norwalk's oystering and shipping trade can be seen in a nineteenth century red and white Hawaiian quilt. Two nineteenth century ribbon quilts made from hatbands, ribbons and clothing tags manufactured in the factories of Norwalk represent the changes wrought by the machine age, while yo-yo quilts from the 1930's show the mood during the period after World War I. (May 15-November 11 www.rowaytonhistoricalsociety.org or 203-831-0136).

The Norwalk Historical Society will show Collected & Cherished: Quilts made and collected in Norwalk featuring quilts made from 1850 to 1950, including log cabin designs in silk, baskets-and-wreath designs in cotton. Of special interest from Norwalk's early seafaring days is the Mariner's Compass quilt designed by a sea captain, Charles Selleck, and pieced by his wife Samantha in 1860. Six of the Society's own rare quilts have been restored, thanks to a grant from the Coby Foundation and Gail Wall. (May 14-October 10. www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org or 203.846.0525)

The Craze of Crazy Quilts, a display of a style popular in the latter 19th century, is on view in the Music Room of the 1864 Lockwood-Mathews House (May 14-October 16; www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or 203-838-9799), while Against the Elements: Keeping Warm at the Lighthouse at the Sheffield Lighthouse displays vintage quilts from private collections along with three quilts that are permanently on display in bedrooms in the 10-room 1868 lighthouse to show what life was like for the families of 19th century light keepers. (weekends May 28-June 26,  daily June 27-September 5; www.seaport.org or 203-838-9444).

The charming Quilts Made by Norwalk Children from the 1970s to Today will be on display at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children (June 30-October 10; 203-899-0606 or steppingstonesmuseum.org) while Trains, Planes and Automobiles, featuring quilts with transportation themes showing the impact of transportation technology on American life will be at the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. The museum is housed in the original Signal Station 44, built in 1896 (May 14-October 30; http://www.westctnrhs.org or 203- 246.6958.

More information on the exhibits can be found at www.norwalkquilttrail.org. For information about other nearby events a free color guide to attractions, lodging and dining in Fairfield County, contact the Western Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

 

Meet The Snakes... At Earthplace !

Earthplace in Westport Connecticut has a long history of educating the community about nature and the environment.  True to their mission on  Saturday, April 16 from 2:30 – 3:15 pm  families are invited to get up close and personal with a snake !  Animal Care Technician, Andy Todd, aka The Snake Guy, will take participants on a journey to learn all about the world of snakes.

Andy will answer questions and provide key information and insights into snake behavior, snake size, daily diet, and which snakes make good pets.  "Snakes are one of the most misunderstood and unjustly feared and hated animals on the planet" said Todd.   "I want kids to come away feeling like they just got to participate in something exciting and out of the ordinary; something that they will remember when they are adults."

Children over the age of 3 will have the opportunity to see and touch different types of snakes. The program runs from 2:30-3:15 and is included with the price of general admission and free for members.  Contact Linda Roberts at (203) 227-7253, ext. 115 for more information.F

Founded in 1958 and accredited by The American Association of Museums, Earthplace, a non-profit organization maintains an 84-acre wildlife sanctuary with trails, contains an interactive natural history museum, houses live wildlife for public viewing and hosts many public nature programs and events for children and adults. Other activities include a state-licensed and accredited nursery school, summer day camp, a wildlife rehabilitation program, and the Harbor Watch/River Watch water quality testing program, which this year is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its formation.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center is located on 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, CT 06880.(I-95 Ex.17. Rte. 15 Ex. 41). (203) 227-7253. Grounds are open daily 7 to dusk and the Center is open Mon.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 1-4. http://www.earthplace.org.