FarewellTravels Select Escapes
Read all about Ridgefield CT -- and why is it a perfect place for a walk with your dog!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Shelton CT Historical Society's Vintage Vehicles Antique & Classic Car Show June 19
There is still time for owners of antique and classic vehicles of all kinds to register to participate in this special event. Entry forms may be found at www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or by calling (203) 925-1803. Pre-registration costs $8.00 but will be $10.00 on the day of the event.
Awards in five categories will be presented to crowd favorites. Visitors will enjoy tours of the buildings at Shelton History Center, refreshments, and voting for their favorite vehicles. Admission is $1 for dads, $5/adults and $10/family. Proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the Shelton Historical Society. For additional information including directions, please call (203) 925-1803 or visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org.
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Taste of History: Civil War Food Challenge
During the event, attendees can visit a Civil War encampment to see demonstrations and talk with re-enactors from Company A of the 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Displays will focus on Civil War cooking, weapons and the life of soldiers. Attendees at A Taste of History also can explore an exhibition of quilts from before the Civil War to the present organized by the Historical Society as part of the six-month Norwalk Quilt Trail. In addition, WEBE-108 will broadcast live from the event.
A Taste of History: Civil War is presented by the Norwalk Historical Society as a fund-raiser for restoration of the Civil War Soldiers Monument in Riverside Cemetery. The statue was erected in 1889 by Buckingham Post No. 12 of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization made up of Union Army veterans, to serve as a memorial for more than 32 Civil War soldiers whose families could not afford a "proper" burial. Over the years, this monument has deteriorated and the zinc Civil War soldier was pulled the off its granite base in 2002. Currently, the pieces of the statue are on display at the Norwalk Historical Society Town House at Mill Hill.
As one of its projects in honor of the Sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil War, the Norwalk Historical Society has mounted a campaign to repair the statue, christened "Chester," and return it to its rightful place. Through a grant from the Historic Preservation division of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, monuments conservator Francis Miller of ConservArt, Inc. is preparing a treatment report that will outline the steps needed to restore the monument.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Goshen Stampede Promises Rodeo Thrills A Fathers’ Day Treat in the Litchfield Hills
No need to travel far for Wild West excitement. Broncos and bulls and daring bareback riders will bring Western-style rodeo thrills close to home for the 6th Annual Goshen Stampede in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills, a three-day event June 17-19, perfectly timed for a Fathers Day treat.
The fun starts Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m., when the fastest horses in Connecticut and their riders will race for cash prizes and a title in Barrel Racing, an event that demands speed, timing and accuracy to bring home the money. Two big rodeo competitions will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. and on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19th at 2 p.m. To add to the fun, a kid's rodeo will take place on Saturday at 4 p.m. for entrants up to age 12.
Rodeos aren't the only competitions on the agenda for this gala occasion. There will be added excitement galore from two wild Demolition Derbies and the Tri-State Truck and Tractor Pulls competitions.
Midway rides, free bands every night, great food and fireworks plus a petting zoo just for the kids will add to the festivities.
The Stampede will take place at the Goshen Fair Grounds, 116 Old Middle St. (Rte. 63) in Goshen. Stampede hours are Friday, June 17th 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m; Saturday, June 18th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 19th 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission: Adults: $12, Ages 10-18: $6 and under 10 free with a paying adult and a coupon that is available on the Stampede website. For complete schedule of events and discount tickets visit www.goshenstampede.com.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women's Hats in Danbury CT
Twenty display cases, filled to the brim, will feature over 300 ladies hats from the museum collection – caps, bonnets, felts, furs whimsies, pillboxes and more. The exhibit showcases hat design from the colonial period through the mid-20th century along with hat related accessories. Visitors to the exhibit will be amazed by the artistry of the hats on view.
An entire wall in Huntington Hall will be dedicated to articles of ephemera including historic newspaper advertisements and city directory listings related to the millinery trade in Danbury. Vintage photos and antique postcards from the archives of the Society illustrate styles and trends.
The exhibit was inspired by the work of Catherine Vanaria, Western CT State University photography professor and Danbury small business owner, who spent time during the summer of 2010 photographing the hat collection. Erika Askin, guest curator and museum volunteer, spent countless hours cataloging each hat, writing the scripts and staging the exhibit.
Joretta Kilcourse, museum docent and volunteer crafted a special 'Magnificent Millinery Quilt' featuring Vanaria's photos of some of the finest hats in the collection. The winning ticket for this fundraising raffle will be drawn at the close of the exhibit on October 15, 2011.
The Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women's Hats in Danbury' exhibit will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m from June 4, 2011 through October 15, 2011. Suggested donation for viewing the exhibit is $5.00.
Danbury was once known as the "hatting capital" of the country. An abundance of water and marshes that attracted beavers were the key elements essential to hat making and at that time Danbury had both. The industry has been traced back to Zadoc Benedict who began a shop in Danbury in 1780. By the early 19th century there were over 40 shops making hats in Danbury.
By 1909 Danbury was making 36 million hats a year from cowboy hats to fedoras to top hats and became known as Hatting Capital of the World. The decline of the "hat culture" is attributed to the automobile industry because hats became cumbersome to wear in cars. In 1987, Stetson was the last hat factory to leave Danbury marking the end of an era.
Special Note: June 4th is also National Trails Day. The DMHSA is happy be joining in by distributing maps for our "Museum In the Streets" walk that winds through CityCenter Danbury. Park your car, put on your hat, refill your water bottle and take a stroll downtown. Stop along the way at each of twenty-one history panels and learn about our wonderful city!
About the DMHSA: The Danbury Museum & Historical Society was formed in 1947 to acquire, preserve, exhibit and interpret New England's past; focusing particularly on the heritage of Danbury. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary Rider House (c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building houses the museum offices and research library.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sheffield Island Opens for the Season
From May through September, visitors can board the Seaport Association's 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to the island then tour the lighthouse, observe wildlife in their natural habitat in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, hunt for shells along the beach, dine on a picnic lunch, play on the lawns around the lighthouse or simply unwind and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds them. A special treat when visiting the island is a climb to the lighthouse tower that affords magnificent views of Long Island Sound and, on a clear day, of the New York City skyline.
A special offering by the Seaport Association is the Wednesday Sunset Harbor Cruises from 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m. This relaxing sunset cruise on the Seaport's new 45-foot ferry is a spectacular way to explore the beauty of Fairfield County's "gold coast", Norwalk Harbor and Long Island Sound. Advance reservations for the popular sunset cruise are strongly recommended.
A favorite of young and old alike is the Thursday Evening Clambake at Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Every summer, the Seaport Ferry in South Norwalk carries hundreds of hungry passengers to the historic 1868 Sheffield Island Lighthouse for this famous Thursday night outing. A true New England dining experience, the evening allows participants to dine in the festive tented pavilion on the lighthouse lawn, with tours of the lighthouse itself included in the cost. Roundtrip cruise and dinner is either $58 or $78 per person, depending on entree. Advance registration only. To dine in the shadow of the historic 1868 Sheffield Island Lighthouse and look out to the skyline of Manhatten is truly and unforgettable summer experience. The Clambake begins June 30, 2011 and runs through August 25, 2011.
The Seaport Association also offers a popular Bird Watching Cruise that leaves the dock at 7:30 am and returns at 10:30 am. Birding enthusiasts will join Larry Flynn, Master Wildlife Conservationist, Division of Wildlife, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, aboard the Seaport Association's ferry, to learn about the birds that make Long Island Sound their home. The first tour for 2011 is Saturday, June 4 from 2 pm to 4 pm. This years dates for the special birding crusies are: Sunday, June 12 and 26; Sunday July 10, Tuesday July 12, Sunday July 24, Saturday July 30, Sunday August 7 and Wednesday August 10. For reservations call 203-838-9444.
The ferry service to Sheffield Island is Monday-Friday -- 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and on weekends and holidays the ferry runs at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Round-trip ferry tickets: $22 adults $20 seniors/NSA members $12 ages 4-12; $5 ages 3 and younger. To buy tickets call 800-838-3006 (24/7) visit the website www.seaport.org or call 203-838-2898 on the day of the ferry ride.
The ferry leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in Historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and the Norwalk Maritime Center Garage. The 2011 Season begins May 28, 2011 and ends September 25, 2011. It is advised to arrive at the dock 15 minutes before departure.
The Norwalk Seaport Association was established in 1978 and stewards the Sheffield Island lighthouse, which celebrates 142 years as the jewel in Long Island Sound.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Classic Schooner Sails SoundWaters Opens this Weekend!
Afternoon sails from 3 to 5 p.m. on selected dates from June through August are great for families with children age 5 and up, offering the chance to help hoist the sails and raise the trawl to discover who lives underwater. This summer, afternoon sails are offered on the following dates: Sunday, May 29, Sunday, June 12, Saturday, June 25, Sunday, June 26, Sunday, July 3, Saturday, July 9, Saturday, July 16, Sunday, July 17, Saturday, July 23, Saturday, July 30, Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.
Sunset Sails on selected weekends and weeknights from June through August are intended for adults, who are invited to bring dinner and their favorite beverages on baord and relax while watching the sun go down. These sails are intended for Adults, as alcohol is often brought on board. Sunset Sails are offered 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm on the following dates this season: Sunday, May 29, Sunday, June 12, Saturday, June 25, Sunday, June 26, Tuesday, June 28, Sunday, July 3, Wednesday, July 6, Friday, July 8, Saturday, July 9, Friday, July 15, Saturday, July 16, Sunday, July 17, Wednesday, July 20, Friday, July 22, Saturday, July 2, Wednesday, July 27, Friday, July 29, Saturday, July 30, Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.
On July 2 Soundwaters is offering a "Fireworks Sail", that is truely an unforgettable event that is set against the dramatic backdrop of Long Island Sound from 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm. Tickets for this very special sail are $75 per person.
Tickets for Afternoon and Sunset Sails are $30 per person and all children must be at least five years old. To reserve your space please call 203-406-3335 with a credit card. Prior to the day of the sail, tickets are also available at the SoundWaters Center in Cove Island Park and can be purchased by credit card, cash or check. Spaces on day of sail are available first come first served. Passengers can pay in person (cash or check) on the day of sail dockside (Brewers Yacht Haven Marina). Note that these spaces are not guaranteed. For any additional questions or if you would like to make advance resevations phone (203) 406-3335 or email hstarks@soundwaters.org.
To reach the Marina coming from the North on I-95:-Take I-95 South to Exit 7. Merge onto N State St (merge into the middle lane, the far left lane will take you back to I-95 South). Turn left on to Washington Blvd (5th Traffic Light) Washington Blvd will turn into Dyke Lane Continue on Dyke Lane. Take a right onto Batemen Way. Turn left into Brewer Yacht Haven Marina and follow the pavement to the southwest corner of the marina. The Schooner SoundWaters is located at Dock S1.
Coming from the South on I-95: -Take I-95 North to Exit 7.-Merge onto S State St-Turn right onto Washington Blvd-Washington Blvd will turn into Dyke Lane- Continue on Dyke Lane.- Take a right onto Batemen Way- Turn left into Brewer Yacht Haven Marina and follow the pavement to the southwest corner of the marina. The Schooner SoundWaters is located at Dock S1.
The gate into Brewer Yacht Haven Marina is open Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm. If your sail is after 5:00 pm on a weekday, after 1:00 pm on Saturday, or on a Sunday, a SoundWaters staff member will be at the entrance gate into Brewers Yacht Haven Marina 30 minutes prior to the start of the sail to check in passengers and direct you to parking. You must check in at the gate 5 minutes prior to the start of the sail.
Lake Compounce Offers Discounts for Military Families Memorial Day Weekend
“We at Lake Compounce deeply appreciate what those in the military, both retired and current members, as well as their families do and sacrifice for our country.” Said Jerry Brick, the park’s General Manager. “And we would like to express our gratitude by honoring them on Memorial Day weekend.”
Regular admission is $35.99, and discounted tickets will be $17.99 each. The park will be open on May 28 and 29 from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., and on May 30 from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
About Lake Compounce
Lake Compounce is part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks and is New England's Family Theme Park as well as the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. Straddling both Bristol and Southington, Connecticut, the park is now open for its 166th season and is the oldest continuously operating Amusement Park in the United States.
Season passes are now on sale for the 2011 season, and can be purchased for $69.99 for a limited time (Regularly $79.99). Unlimited parking passes are available to all season pass holders for $33.00. Regular admission price for the 2011 season will be $35.99. Junior admission, which is for guests under 52 inches tall, is $25.99. Senior admission, for ages 61 and up, will be $17.99. Children 3 years of age and younger are admitted free.
All tickets and season passes may be purchased by visiting www.lakecompounce.com.
Friday, May 20, 2011
A Workshop for Fiber Enthusiasts in Litchfield Hills
This workshop will explore fiber preparation, from skirting a newly shorn fleece, to carding techniques and everything in between. You will explore different breeds of sheep and how the care and health of a sheep affects wool quality. You will learn how to wash a fleece and how to use both hand cards, and a drum carder to create wonderful batts for felting or spinning. You'll leave this workshop with the confidence to purchase and process your own fleeces. Best of all, you don't need to know how to spin to appreciate this workshop, although by the end of the retreat .... you'll want to learn!
The Sachem Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast, overlooking Lake Waramaug provides the ideal venue for this weekend workshop. Guest rooms are elegantly decorated with fine antiques, comfortable reading chairs, and luxurious beds. A leisurely breakfast featuring fresh eggs from the farm and local produce is included in every stay. Here you can take time to enjoy the pastures and sheep as you learn about working and living on a small fiber farm. You may want to spend your free time knitting on the porch that overlooks majestic Lake Waramaug, take a stroll down a country lane or explore the ring road along the Lake by bike. Nearby bucolic villages provide endless shopping and restaurants for dining. As an added bonus, Hopkins Vineyard is just up the street for wine tasting and vineyard walks.
Arrive at 2:00pm (Early Check-in offered, with time to relax and unwind)
Spend the afternoon knitting or spinning on the porch.
5:00pm-6:00pm Complimentary Wine Tasting featuring local wine from Hopkins Vineyard.
Dinner on your own (there are many fine area restaurants to choose from or, get take-out and eat by the lake)
Saturday, June 11
8:00am-9:00am Breakfast on the porch
9:30am-12:00pm Morning Workshop
Different Wools
- Discuss different types of sheep wool
- Discuss other available animal fibers, i.e. angora, llama, etc.
- Discuss animal care and health of fleece
- Selecting fleeces and hands-on skirting
12:00pm-1:00pm Picnic Lunch by the sheep pasture
1:00pm-3:00pm Afternoon Workshop
- Fiber Preparation
- Discuss methods for cleaning wool
- Hands-on washing a fleece
Sunday, June 12
8:00am-9:00am breakfast on the porch
9:30am-12:30pm Morning Workshop
- Hand Carding Wool and creating spinning rolags
- Using a drum carder to blend and create fibers into wonderful
batts for spinning and felting
12:30pm-1:30pm A "working" lunch on the porch if extra time is needed for carding.
Check-out will be extended until 4 pm for those who would like to explore the area or enjoy the lake front.
Fiber Preperation Workshop Weekend Special June 10-12
Lodging cost: Friday & Saturday night, (breakfast included)
$535.00 lake view room with private bath (accommodates two, $40.00 for 1 additional person on rollaway cot) (CT state occupancy tax included)
$335.00 shared bath room (accommodates two) (CT state occupancy tax included)
Workshop fee $175.00 (lunch, afternoon tea & materials included) Accommodations and workshop availability are limited.
For workshop registration and reservation requests: Phone (860)-868-0359 Email: info@thesachemfarmhouse.com http://www.thesachemfarmhouse.com
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Woodbury Auction's 2nd Anniversary Antique and Fine Art Auction
Thomas Schwenke commented that "this space in a centrally located and highly visible location allows us to get the auction set up much more efficiently and also provides maximum exposure for the auction, all to the benefit of our consignors and buyers. Attendees will find ample parking in the commercial mall also occupied by Ovens of France, a charming French bakery, and Zee Burger, the newest culinary offering by noted Woodbury chef Carole Peck.
A beautiful mid-spring ride to Woodbury, called by many the "Antiques Capital" of Connecticut, and situated on the "Connecticut Antiques Trail", will bring attendees to Woodbury Auction LLC's anniversary event, featuring American and European furniture, country Americana, folk art, and decorative and fine art. Premier items in the sale include a pair of Joseph H. Sharp watercolors, a rare New Jersey silvered dial tall clock by Aaron Lane, a stunning Continental crystal chandelier, and a Pennsylvania walnut Queen Anne dressing table descended in the family of William Pinckney, Maryland statesman.
Also offered in this anniversary sale, Woodbury Auction's sixth sale since inception in May of 2009, will be furniture, paintings, country Americana, folk art, porcelain, vintage toys and general collectibles from estates and consignors in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island. Absentee, phone and online bidding (through Live Auctioneers) will be available. Preview will be held from May 18th through the morning of the sale.
"Woodbury Auction is an auction house with well-qualified dealer experts in service to appreciators of not only fine arts and antiques, but of the art of the auction itself," noted Mr. Schwenke, founder of the enterprise. "Connecticut is really at the heart of America's historic property preservation and antiquities interest. Being located on the "Connecticut Antiques Trail", we have real time visitors and clients from all over the country. And since our auctions are also conducted live on the internet we offer the opportunity for fine pieces to change hands on a world wide selling platform."
As owner and proprietor of Thomas Schwenke, Inc. Antiques, one of Woodbury's largest shops, Schwenke is widely regarded as one of the country's top antiques experts having over four decades of experience in the antiques business and boasting a broad established network of dealers, appraisers and collectors.
New Canaan Nature Center Art Exhibit The Little Things by Melissa Kircher
The photographs have all been processed with different fine art elements to create unique and truly original works of art. Melissa Kircher attended Gordon College in Massachusetts where she studied drawing, printmaking, graphic design, and sculpture. She earned a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in sculpture. Melissa is currently a self employed artist in the fields of painting, photography, photo-processing, graphic design and freelance writing. Her home and studio is in Norwalk, Connecticut and her work has been displayed in various Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York City locations. Melissa's artwork can be seen on her web-site: www.melissakircher.com.
For more information please call 966-9577. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit the New Canaan Nature Center
The New Canaan Nature Center is an environmental education center and sanctuary dedicated to helping people of all ages better understand, appreciate and care for the world of nature. The Nature Center's grounds, which include a Birds of Prey exhibit and gardens, are open from dawn to dusk daily. The Visitor's Center and Discovery Room are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Friday, May 13, 2011
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.
Monday, May 9, 2011
CT's White Silo Farm--Annual Asparagus Festival May 14 & 15
This is the fourth year that this small specialty winery is holding it's popular Annual Asparagus Festival on May 14 and 15 from 12 PM - 5 PM in the bucolic village of Sherman Connecticut just outside of Danbury.
Visitors to this festival are in for a treat as White Silo's culinary experts will be serving dishes prepared from their farm fresh asparagus, freshly picked the morning of the event. Some of the mouth-watering choices include: truffled asparagus crostini, asparagus soup with fried asparagus shavings, and asparagus latkes, along with a few other items. There will be $5-6 charge per small plate.
A forte of White Silo Farm and Winery is their selection of specialty wines that include "Blackberry Sangria", Raspberry, Black Currant, Rhubarb, and Blackberry, all made with fruit grown at the farm. Throughout the season as fruit ripens, White Silo offers pick-your-own berries, asparagus and rhubarb.
To round out the festivities live music, winery and field tours, and farm museum tours will be held throughout the day. The farm tour is especially exciting because you experience the charm of an earlier era when touring the old barn where the winery is located. The tour will also take you to visit the fermentation, bottling, and corking rooms where the classical art of wine making has been preserved. This event is perfect for a fun family spring outing. Admission to the event is free.
White Silo Farm & Winery is located on 32 Rt 37 East in Sherman, CT 06784 and can be reached at: 860 355 0271 or visit them at www.whitesilowinery.com.
Snowy Owls Now On Exhibit At Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Harry Potter fans are in for a treat this spring at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo! The Zoo is pleased to welcome four Snowy Owls, two males and two females that were born last July at the Hannover Zoo in Germany. The four birds are brothers and sisters. One pair is currently on exhibit in the former Lynx exhibit, between the Amur tigers and Andean bears. A date for the other pair to make their public debut has not yet been determined.
"A lot of folks will recognize the Snowy Owl from its Hollywood debut in the "Harry Potter" series," explained Gregg Dancho, Zoo Director. "Harry's owl, Hedwig, served as a trusted ally to the young wizard. Our Snowy Owls won't be delivering mail anytime soon, but we're sure they will be a hit with the public."
Like other northern species of raptors, these birds have proven to be very susceptible to West Nile Virus, resulting in their loss at a number of zoos and nature centers, as well as breeding facilities, over the last few years. Because conservation is a core part of the Zoo's mission, efforts to locate an unrelated pair with which the birds may mate.
Weighing in around four to five pounds, the owls have an average wingspan of five and a half feet and stand about two feet tall. While the males are primarily white, the females have gray and black barring on their chests and wings making it easier to tell them apart. As the female birds get older, they will become whiter much like their brothers. The average lifespan of Snowy Owls in the wild is only about 10 years, but in captivity they can live for up to 25 or more years.
About Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is closer than you think and features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won't want to miss our new Bald Eagle exhibit, Andean condors, Amur (Siberian) tigers, ocelots, red & maned wolves, Andean (spectacled) bear, llamas, vampire bats, and golden lion tamarins. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org
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