Extreme Habitats: Into the Deep Sea at the Bruce Museum

Extreme Habitats: Into the Deep Sea  at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich  explores the vast and extraordinary deep sea.  This show focuses on the highly adapted survival strategies utilized by creatures of the deep and the technology that enables researchers to record ground-breaking observations of what is often called the last frontier on this planet.

Sea Butterfly 

Photo by Larry Madin © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 

Museum visitors might feel like they are in a deep-sea submersible as they look through view ports to observe the mesopelagic - or twilight zone - of the sea with its bioluminescent inhabitants.  The exhibit will show visitors the extremophiles that form the foundation of a hydrothermal vent as well as  the bizarre appearances and adaptations of deep-sea species.  One of the take aways from experiencing this exhibit is an understanding of the technology that makes deep-sea explorations possible.

Hydrothermal Vent Display Photo by Sean Murtha

The Bruce Museum has created highly accurate casts of deep-sea organisms such as the Pacific Viperfish, Cock-Eyed Squid, Bloodbelly Comb Jelly, Gulper Eel, Giant Tube Worms, and more, created from molds on loan from the American Museum of Natural History. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is lending preserved deep- sea specimens collected from various deep-sea explorations and dives around the globe. The University of Connecticut is assisting with interpretation of the New England seamounts, or underwater mountain ranges.  Rare footage of creatures of the deep comes from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is sharing cutting edge information on the deep-sea submersible Alvin as well as their expertise on deep-sea ecosystems around the world.

Bloodbelly comb jelly 

Photo by MBARI ©2002 MBARI 

The exhibition is the second in a series at the Bruce Museum looking at extreme biological, chemical and physical factors that affect different ecosystems around the world. Extreme Habitats: Into the Deep Sea opens runs through November 9.  

And when you go, don’t forget your cell phone:  This exhibition, like many others at the Bruce, will be accompanied by a compelling cell phone audio tour guide program, Guide by Cell, generously underwritten by Nat and Lucy Day.  Easy to follow Guide by Cell instructions will be available at the front admissions desk.

About the Bruce Museum

The Bruce Museum is a museum of art and science and is located at One Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. 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 less than five years. Individual admission is free on Tuesday. Free on-site parking is available and the Museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities.  For additional information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376 or visit the website at www.brucemuseum.org.

Quassy and Lake Compounce Promise New Thrills This Summer

America’s oldest amusement park, Lake Compounce in Bristol, proves once again that it is totally up to date this season, debuting a spectacular new laser light show and a new campground while Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, celebrating its 106^th birthday this year, promises new water park fun and new entertainment thrills at its Carousel Theater. Quassy’s popular Summer Idol singing contest also returns this year.

CELEBRITY-CHOICE DOGS, LASERS AND TIPIS at LAKE COMPOUNCE

               A spectacular new laser light show beginning July 4^th. ‘Illuminate the Night”, will feature a 50-foot water wall veiling the lake with simultaneous synchronized music, projections and lasers. It will light up the sky at Lake Compounce every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through August 24th

               Lake Compounce is also introducing the first East Coast branch of Hollywood’s legendary Pink’s Hot Dogs, a favorite of show business celebrities.  Park visitors will be able to sample and see why Pink’s was number one in a Fox News Top Ten list of America’s best hot dog stands.

              

               The new Bear Creek Campground will have its grand opening July 1, beckoning visitors with the chance to sleep in a traditional tipi. The tipis are equipped with electricity and mini refrigerators and can sleep four to 6. The campground also offers 20 fully-furnished cabins, 56 RV sites equipped with water and electricity, and 30 tent sites.

Lake Compounce, established in 1846, is now part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks. Millions have been spent in the last few years to equip the park with state of the art roller coasters and thrill rides and Connecticut’s largest water park. See the full line-up at lakecompounce.com

EXPANDED WATER PARK, ENTERTAINMENT BECKON AT QUASSY

“The Beat is On” at Quassy Amusement Park and Waterpark, guaranteeing family fun when the Bucket Brigade takes the stage with its unique show “at the Carousel Theater July 4 to 27. These drummers extraordinaire use buckets, oil drums, tubes and all manner of wacky instruments to produce an irresistible beat, and they get the audience into the act, as well.

Quassy also plans its third popular Summer Idol singing talent competition for teens and pre-teens.  Auditions are set for July 7 with shows scheduled on July 20, 27 and August 3.

The Wooden Warrior roller coaster and the Crazy Cups ride are among many recent additions that bring the venerable park up to date while maintaining its old-fashioned charm.

Last year Quassy almost doubled the size of its Splash Away Bay water park, adding thrill features like BulletBOWL, a two-person tunneled tube ride that drops more than 30 feet and travels more than 210 feet. The tube emerges from the tunnel by spinning into a gigantic bowl where speed and centrifugal force keep riders glued to the outside of the bowl. For a full list of rides, see Quassy.com

For more information and a free copy of UNWIND, a full-color, 152-page booklet detailing what to do and see, and where to stay, shop and dine in Fairfield County and the Litchfield Hills of Western Connecticut, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, or visit their web site at www.litchfieldhills.com.

Music Mountain Celebrates 85th Concert Season

Concert aficionados from around the country will want to mark their calendars for Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival that is celebrating their 85th concert season this summer through September 14.  To commemorate the milestone, Music Mountain located in the scenic Litchfield Hills of Connecticut will continue their season past Labor Day – making the 85th Anniversary Season the longest running season since the 1930s! The summer will include returning chamber ensembles, first time guests and the ever-popular Saturday Evening Twilight Series featuring Jazz, Country, and Folk Music. Concerts are scheduled through September 14.

Music Mountain photo credit Joan Waldon

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series begins on June 14 (6:30PM) with The West Point Alumni Glee Club. Evening concerts continue with New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (and the first of several pre-concert dinners, June 21); Jive By Five (June 28); The Sharon Playhouse (July 5); Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks (July 12); Gunsmoke (July 19); Swingtime Big Band (July 26); The New Black Eagle Jazz Band (August 2); The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (August 9); The Galvanized Jazz Band (August 16); Baroque Italian Opera Arias & Duets (August 23); and Michael Berkeley (September 6). 

This year, the twilight series will broaden its variety of musical offerings to include folk music, opera and the golden age of Broadway. A special concert of Old Time Country Music by Tater Patch, whose bass player Richard Gordon is a grandson of Jacques Gordon, Music Mountain's Founder, and the only descendant of the Founder ever to appear at Music Mountain, will also be presented as the final Twilight concert on September 13.

Orion String Quartet

Music Mountain's 85th Anniversary Season will also include their annual Teaching Program -- bringing master teachers and aspiring young musicians together. Artistic Director of The Next Festival of Emerging Artists at Music Mountain, composer, c. "America's leading oboe recitalist," Humbert Lucarelli returns to Music Mountain for his master Oboe Seminar Sunday, July 20 through Friday, July 25. Returning for the second year, Carol Kastendieck, faculty member at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, will teach an actors vocal training program in August.

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut on Music Mountain Road, where a short scenic drive will bring you to Gordon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Food, wine & beer are also available for purchase.

Tickets for the Season Opening Concert & Reception on Saturday, June 7 and End of Season Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, August 31 are $75 and include a voucher for one regularly priced concert. Two special mid-summer benefit concerts on Sunday, June 22 with the Juilliard String Quartet and on Sunday, July 20 with Peter Serkin and the Orion String Quartet are $60 per ticket. Pre-concert dinners are $60 and include concert ticket. Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder (Music Mountain gratefully acknowledges children admission support by the Hellen Plummer Foundation for a gift in memory of James Merrill, Connecticut's first Poet Laureate).

Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm on Sundays. Group rates and pre season ticket vouchers are available. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Over There: Washington and The Great War

The Gunn Memorial Museum, on 5 Wykehem Rd in Washington Connecticut has  organized a new exhibition that commemorates the 100th anniversary of World War One, one of the largest and bloodiest conflicts in history, where over 70 million military personnel were mobilized around the world and more than 10 million combatants and 7 million civilians were killed, including several from Washington, CT. Over 100 men and women from Washington, and more than 150 alumni and faculty from The Gunnery served in The Great War.

Letters, pictures, and an interesting array of period artifacts from the museum, local families, and collectors, including Peter Tragni and Dr. Robert Jacobs, among others, are used to explore the dramatic experiences of Washington's soldiers, along with the extensive support efforts that were happening on the home front in Washington through such organizations as the Sister Susie Society, the Red Cross, the Women's Land Army, and the Home Guard. All of their fascinating stories will be shared in this exhibit and a diverse series of public programs (see below) through the year, sponsored in part by the Connecticut Community Foundation.

Art director Chris Zaima, designer Sandy Booth, and painter Keith Templeton, along with a team of other volunteers and staff, have created another visual masterpiece. Local history will come alive as visitors step back in time and explore the lives of Washington's residents during World War One, through their own words, and the impact this war had on our small town.

Admission to the exhibit is free, and this exhibit will be on display through January 18, 2015. For more information, call the Museum at 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for more information or email gunnmuseum@sbcglobal.net.

On June 28 at 11 a.m. at the Gunn Library, there will be a lecture, The Beginning of the End: The Origins of World War I.  Dr. Michael Nolan, a professor of European History at Western Connecticut State University, will present a lecture to mark the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austrian Empire, the spark that ignited World War One. On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist who was a Black Hand Terrorist as they visited the city of Sarajevo. This assassination was the catalyst of World War One, a four-year event that claimed the lives of over 10 million soldiers and 7 million civilians around the globe.

Dr. Nolan will discuss the contentious years leading up to the assassination, how the events of that day unfolded, the impact the resulting war had on the 20th century, and who was really to blame for the origins of the war, the answer to which is not as clear cut as many might think and has vexed historians for the past century. Dr. Nolan is a 2001 graduate of Brandeis University and is the author of The Inverted Mirror: Mythologizing the Enemy in France and Germany, 1898-1914 (New York, Berghahn Books, 2005).

On Tuesday, July 14 & 28 and August 11 & 25 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gunn Library and Museum there will be a WWI Film Series featuring: The African Queen, A Farewell to Arms, Fly Boys, and War Horse.

Walking Tour of Historic Litchfield June 21

Litchfield is often referred to as the most well preserved colonial town in America  and with good reason as the center was the first in Connecticut to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the state in 1959.

The Litchfield Historical Society’s annual slate of walking tours for June begins at 10:00 am. During each tour, a museum educator or guest tour guide offers participants a new way to look at their surroundings with themed walks through Litchfield’s history. Each tour lasts about an hour—make sure to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable shoes!

Saturday, June 21 is a very special "Curators" tour of Litchfield's colonial revival architecture. In conjunction with the Society's new exhibit on Litchfield during the Colonial Revival, The Lure of the Litchfield Hills, curator of collections Jessica Jenkins will lead a walking tour exploring some of the Colonial Revival hot spots around town.

Taking the stories of the Colonial Revival out of the museum, participants will have a chance to hear about how areas of town, such as the business block and town green, underwent major changes in the first part of the 20th century. Ms. Jenkins will also explore the motives behind the social movement and touch on the evolution of the appearance of private homes as well as such iconic building as the Congregational Church. Join them for a intimate look at the Colonial Revival Movement in Litchfield and take a walk through history as you learn why Litchfield looks the way it does today. 

This program is free for members and $10 for non-members; registration is required. Please call (860) 567-4501 or email egistration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org to register. 

The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South St., Litchfield, CT. For more information about this or other programs, please see www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or call (860) 567-4501.

For information on where to stay, dine and shop visit www.litchifeldhills.com.

Victorian Ice Cream Social at Lockwood Mathews Mansion

On June 22, 2014, 12-5 p.m., the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum located on 295 West Ave. in Norwalk will recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era in Mathews Park by bringing back a highlight of summer during the Gilded Age from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Children will play popular Victorian lawn games such as croquet and badminton and participate in turn-of-the-century activities like Maypole dancing. Visitors will learn how ice cream was made in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and how it became widely popular with the invention of the hand-cranked ice cream machine.

Featured entertainment will include: James Miller and his antique "High Wheeler" bicycles, (a 1887 New Mail and an 1898 Liberty Tribune made in Bridgeport, CT); music by The Norwalk Community Chorale and the Usual Suspects Barbershop Quartet; 15 year old magician Ben Zabin; illusionist, juggler, comedian Jason Pipitone; and much more.

LMMM's costumed historical interpreters will wander through the crowds, interacting with children and adults alike while they bring the Mansion's history to life. Palm readers will tell the future as visitors explore the past, Irene and Gisella Surapine will offer face painting to children of all ages, and Victorian interpreters Paul and Hadley Veeder will narrate the Mouse Mansion story written by author Judith Rodriguez. A children's hat contest for 12 year olds and under will feature special prizes for the most original creations.

While general admission to the event is free and so are selected programs, the museum will charge for some of the activities and for all food sold during the event. Tickets will be available at LMMM's booths at the designated locations in Mathews Park. The Museum will be open for mini-tours. Guests will be invited to walk throughout the Museum's period rooms on the first floor and enjoy the beauty of this Victorian era Mansion for only $5.

For more information on the schedule of events, food stands, and prices please email us at info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

For information on Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com 
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15th Annual Ice Cream Social at New Morning Market in Woodbury

Bring your family, bring your friends and co-workers  - come to New Morning Market located on 129 Main Street in Woodbury  for the 15th Annual Ice Cream Social that is not only deliciously fun but also a benefit for Safe Haven Shelter for Victims of Domestic Abuse.

The Ice Cream Social will take place on Friday June 20th, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. New Morning is generously donating 100% of your $5.00 donation to Safe Haven Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence.

Get ready to build your own delicious ice cream sundaes (including dairy or gluten free options) with an array of scrumptious toppings while enjoying the  live performance of Bill and Martha Bless.  There is even a chance to enter a drawing to win a free folding bike courtesy of Seasnax!

New Morning will be Collecting Your Donations for Safe Haven all Month! The shelter is in need of pantry stuffs, personal care items, toiletries, new clothing and cleaning supplies. You can pick up a wish list at the store!

About New Morning Market

New Morning Market of Woodbury, CT is a leading natural and organic, independent retailer for healthy sustainable living. Owner John Pittari and his staff continually create an environment that fosters meaningful exchanges of knowledge, services and products. New Morning has been in business for well over 40 years and has been in their brand new facility at 129 Main Street North in Woodbury for almost 2 years. Boasting more than 9,000 square feet of retail space and a large community room for classes and presentations, New Morning has become a popular destination and an important part of the local community. More information can be found at www.newmorn.com, on Facebook or by calling 203-263-4868.

Take Dad to the Goshen Stampede

Promising the best Stampede ever and one of the most unique Fathers Day events anywhere, the 7th Annual Goshen Stampede will go into action for three days, June 13 to 15, bringing Western style rodeo thrills to Connecticut's Litchfield Hills Champion roping, racing and the challenge of cowboy versus bucking bull and bronco will be the highlights of this busy weekend, which will feature two official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeos.

Two traditional fair favorites, Demolition Derbies, and Truck Pull competitions, will also be on the schedule. Fireworks on Saturday night, non-stop music on the main stage, a kids' rodeo and free Petting Zoo and plenty of great food fill out the agenda and insure a good time for all. Proceeds from the event help support local charities as well as national organizations supporting the men, women, and families of the United States Armed Services.

This year, there will be a Motor Sports Arena with Full size cars Friday night and a Figure 8 race with Compact cars Sunday afternoon with special guest driver "AJ" from the WPLR morning radio show. There will also be 2 Pro Rodeos Saturday and Sunday in the Kicks 105.5 Arena with Bulls, Broncs, and Cowboys from Las Vegas and Madison Square Gardens, 2 Days of Truck Warz.

The three day Music Festival  will features country stars  including Blackjack Billy and Chris Janson as well as 10 other regional favorites on the Country 92.5 Stage.

There will also be an action Packed Midway, Free WZBG Petting Zoo and Kids Rodeo as well as Redneck games on the WZBG Family Stage, plus great food and lots of vendors to round out the fun. Don't forget that prizes will be awarded for the best event themed attire so dress up and have some fun!

The Stampede will be take place at the Goshen Fair Grounds, 116 Old Middle Street in Goshen. Hours are Friday, June 13th, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m; Saturday, June 14th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 15th 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is Adults, $12 online and 14 at the gate, ages 10-17, $8 online and $10 at the gate and under 10 $6 at Gate or Free with Coupon & Paid Adult. Advance purchase is available at www.goshenstampede.com, where a complete schedule of events is also posted

Dog Days of Summer arrives early at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is once again going to the dogs on Saturday, June 14...and they couldn't be happier. The museum will host its fourth annual, day-long festival celebrating the powerful and important bonds between humans and their animal friends. BooZoo™'s Canine Carnival, where play and learning go hand-in-paw, will take place at Stepping Stones on June 14 between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The event is free with museum admission. The Canine Carnival is hosted by BooZoo, the museum's fictional puppy mascot for early childhood learning and literacy, and will feature carnival games for families and dogs, pooch and people pics in our prop-laden photo booth, a meet-and-greet with BooZoo, a "pampered pooch" area featuring a dog wash and day spa, story times with BooZoo, bobbing for doggie treats and so much more. All canine friends, accompanied by owners, are welcome to take part in carnival activities under the tent of the museum's Celebration Courtyard. Visitors are invited to enter their dog(s) in the museum's Crazy Canine Contest at 11:30 am. A panel will judge the dogs in the following categories: best dressed, fastest tail wager, fluffiest, best smile, best ears and walks with attitude. Each dog will be judged in all categories. And who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Visitors will be able to sign up for a 5-minute time slot to give their four-legged, furry friends an opportunity to show off his or her tricks. Dogs must be licensed and accompanied by people who are 15 years or older. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. A highlight of the day is sure to be when assistance dogs from the Canine Companions for Independence® conduct a demonstration in the museum's Multimedia Gallery. Founded in 1975, the world-renowned Canine Companions for Independence is a national non-profit which provides highly-skilled assistance dogs to adults, veterans and children with disabilities free of charge. Canine Companions created the concept of assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. During BooZoo's Canine Carnival, the assistance dogs will be put through a routine demonstrating their ability to follow commands, open doors, flip on light switches, pick up dropped items and complete other important daily tasks. A Canine Companions staff member will talk about how the dogs are bred, trained and matched with their human counterparts, transforming the lives of people with disabilities by increasing their independence and providing loving companionship. Another special component of the event will take place when Milford's John Tartaglio, an inspirational speaker, shares his story with the audience. Tartaglio was 17 years old when he contracted an extremely rare bacterial infection. With his condition dire, doctors were left with no choice but to amputate his legs and left bicep. Tartaglio was only given a 20% chance to live, but he survived and now thrives. He graduated cum laude from Fairfield University. Told by medical professionals that he would never walk again, Tartaglio has completed marathons and triathlons. As a motivational speaker, he speaks to audiences about overcoming adversity, building a positive attitude and turning it into positive actions, leadership and teamwork. Empowering his audiences with his story, Tartaglio challenges people to reach their goals, raise their personal standard and expect more out of themselves because he is living proof that anything is possible. T hroughout the event, the mobile unit of the North Shore Animal League, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, will be on hand with staff members available to answer questions and showcase some of their adoptable friends. Between noon and 2:00 pm, Shake Shack will be on hand in our courtyard serving "Pooch-ini®," a custard-based doggy snack. About BooZoo Building on the commitment to promote early childhood development and reading literacy for young children, the museum developed the BooZoo character three years ago. BooZoo is a toy puppy who lives in Tot Town™, the museum's toddler exhibit. He's smart, incurably curious and loves reading books. For additional information about BooZoo's Canine Carnival, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/CanineCarnival.

Copyright © 2001-2012 Catalytic Group Inc.

New Season for the Clay and Wattles Theatre in Bethlehem

The 2014 Season at The Gary-The Olivia Theater in Bethlehem (on the grounds of the Abbey of Regina Laudis) begins with two one-act plays written by American Playwright Horton Foote. "Blind Date" and "The Actor" will be performed on 

June 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 pm and June 15 and 22 at 2:30 pm. 

These beautifully written comedies set in the fictional town of Harrison, Texas are guaranteed to delight audiences with their poetry, insight into human nature and comic touch.

A prolific writer and winner of many awards. Mr. Foote wrote over 60 plays, television dramas and screenplays spanning a sixty year career. Perhaps most widely know for his screenplays for the films To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983), winning the Oscar for both, Mr. Foote received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1995 for the play, The Young Man From Atlanta.

Both comedies deal with conflicts between the generations. In Blind Date, a former beauty pageant queen tries to persuade her recalcitrant and unwilling niece on the art of "How to attract a suitor," and in The Actor, the well-intentioned parents try to dissuade their young son from pursuing a career in the theater.

Set in the fictional South Texas town of Harrison in the 1930's, these plays bring out both the charm and pitfalls of small town USA in a humorous and engaging way.

On Friday, June 13, 2014, our opening night gala performance for Blind Date and The Actor will include complimentary wines from Walker Road Vineyards and local artisan made cheeses. Tickets are $25 per person for opening night and $20 per person for the run of the show. Season Subscription Package and Senior Discounts are available at: www.thegarytheolivia.com. 11 yrs and younger are admitted free.

Admission for opening night and details on our 2014 season is at: thegarytheolivia.com. More information:info@thegarytheolivia.com or 203-273-5669.