Antarctic Photography Opens at the Bruce Museum Oct. 28

A new exhibition is opening on October 28 at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich called  Antarctic Photography: Selections from Gondwana: Images of an Ancient Land.  This exhibition features a selection of large-format photographs by Diane Tuft, a New York-based mixed-media artist and photographer.

Wind Formation, Victoria Lower Glacier. Photograph by Diane Tuft

In 2012, Tuft traveled to Antarctica after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. Her images chronicle the extraordinary results of that expedition with stunning photographs that capture Antarctica’s raw, untouched splendor with colors, textures, and compositions that verge on the surreal. 

The exhibition will also include a few specimens, on loan from Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History, representing some of the amazing life forms recently found in the Antarctic waters.

Snow Folds, Scott Base Pressure Ridges

Photograph by Diane Tuft

The selected images are highlights of Tuft's 2014 book Gondwana: Images of an Ancient Land,named for the mega continent that once contained what is now Antarctica, and present her vision of the continent as a living abstract reflection of hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s history. This exhibition runs through February 1, 2015. For more information about the Bruce Museum  https://brucemuseum.org.  The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm. Doors close 1/2 hour before closing, Last admission 4:30 pm .  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Diane Tuft

Diane Tuft is a New York-based mixed-media artist who has focused primarily on photography since 1998. She earned a degree in mathematics at the University of Connecticut before continuing her studies in art at Pratt Institute in New York. She has always been fascinated by the mystery of what exists beyond the visible; capturing this through her camera—often traveling to the world s most remote places to do so—has been a guiding principle of her work. Tuft has had solo exhibitions at Marlborough Gallery, Ameringer-Yohe Gallery, and Pace Gallery in New York City, as well as The Kimball Art Center in Park City, Utah. Tuft's work can be found in the permanent collection of The Whitney Museum of American Art and The International Center of Photography in New York City, as well as numerous private collections and museums throughout the country.

Haunted Graveyards and Witches Dungeon Deliver Chills and Thrills

It is that spooky time of year again and Bristol Connecticut in the Litchfield Hills is "spook central"! 

For chills, make haste to the Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in Bristol, which has been called "The granddaddy of the horrifically good time." An unholy order of monks keep watch over the graves in the dark caverns of the Catacombs here and a dark and misty fog envelops the graveyard where zombies and night stalkers have wakened from the dead. Some are real, others are amazing animatronic creations made by The Haunted Graveyard's crazed staff. Recommended for adults, teens and very brave children, the park opens at dusk weekends from through November 1, and runs to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Lake Compounce will also be operating 17 thrill rides including Boulder Dash, Ghost Hunt, Down Time, and Zoomerang. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Associations. For tickets visit https://www.lakecompounce.com or http://hauntedgraveyard.com.

This will be the 48th year for the annual Witches Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum in Bristol. The Graveyard Of Classic Ghouls sets the atmosphere as you enter the dungeon where accurate life-size figures of Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and others are featured in 13 scenes or dioramas based on the vintage movie chillers. Many of the figures are made from the actual life casts of the actor's faces, plus some original costumes or props, in a wax museum style setting with special voice tracks by Vincent Price, Mark Hamill, and John Agar. Many Hollywood props are on display and vintage films may be shown outdoors, weather permitting.

While waiting for each wax museum tour, you can view actual film props, actor's life casts and movie posters, or step into our film room, to view classic silent horror movies, shown on film, not video. Featuring far more life size figures & original movie props than we have ever had on display before! Figures based on the classic films of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and more.

The new location for Witches Dungeon is 98 Summer Street, Bristol Historical Society in Bristol.  The hours are Friday through Sunday evenings, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31 – Nov. 2.  The Museum is not recommended for children under age 7.   For additional information visit http://www.preservehollywood.org.

Norwalk Symphony's 75th Celebration

The Norwalk Symphony is marking its' 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday October 25 with a performance by the world - renowned violinist Midori who will join the Norwalk Symphony for its opening concert at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

The evening starts with a celebration at the Norwalk Inn at 5:00pm, there will be food and beverages and good friends!   A $150 celebration ticket includes a ticket to the concert.   If you already have your ticket for the concert, celebration tickets are $100.  Tickets for the pre-concert event are available by calling the office at 203.956.6771 or by email at info@norwalksymphony.org.   There is limited seating for the pre-concert event. 

Ms. Midori* will play Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto.  Since her debut at the age of 11, she has established a record of achievement which sets her apart as a master musician, innovator and champion of the developmental potential of children.  In 1991, she founded Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization in New York which brings music education programs to thousands of underserved chlidren each year.  During the 2013-2014 season, she was featured on two new recordings: one in collaboration with the NDR Symphony and conductor Christoph Eschenbach in a rare recording of the Hindemith violin concerto and, the other, a recital program with pianist Ozgur Aydin in works by Shostakovich, Janacek and Bloch.

 

  Also on the program for the evening are Charles Ives' "The Unanswered Question," Mozart's Overture to the "Marriage of Figaro" and his "Symphony No. 29."   

Concert tickets range from $5 for students 18 and under and $20-$40 for adults and are available by visiting www.norwalksymphony.org and the Buy Tickets link, by sending an email to info@norwalksymphony.org or by calling 203.956.6771. 

Howl-O- Ween -- at Beardsley Zoo !

It is that spooky time of year again when the attractions are serving up plenty of chills and thrills and family fun in  Fairfield County.

The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport for example, is calling all ghosts and goblins to their "Howl-O-Ween  on Oct. 24 and 25 from 6:30. Visitors will spend a truly fun and frightful evening at the Zoo featuring a "Greek Mythology" Hayride, Haunted Farmyard, Gruesome Greenhouse, and magic show by Jim Sisti. Tickets also include FREE face painting, and of course, CANDY! Don't miss this frighteningly good time. Admission is $12 per person in advance and for Zoo members; $15 per person at the gate. Event recommended for children ages 6-12, however, some of the "scarier" activities of the evening may be better suited for children ages 8+.

On Sunday, October 26, Boo is at the Zoo... from 12 pm to 3 pm.  This spooktacular afternoon that includes harvest hayrides and many other seasonal enjoyments from 12:00pm - 3:00pm. Special scarecrows are guaranteed to delight and fright all visitors to the Zoo adding a ghoulish flair. Make sure you are on hand when the winner is announced so you can congratulate the winner and have your photo taken with winning scarecrow.

The fun at Beardsley Zoo continues with Harvest Hay Rides through the month every weekend in November on  at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  The rides begin at W.O.L.F. Cabin and are $2 per person.

Beardsley Zoo is located on 1875 Noble Ave. in Bridgeport. For more information visit http://beardsleyzoo.org.  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

7th Annual Washington Green Cemetery Tour

The 7th Annual Washington Green Cemetery Tour, with a special World War One theme, will take place on Friday, October 24from 6:30-8:30pm.

Costumed guides will lead groups of visitors every ten minutes from the Gunn Museum to the Washington Green Cemetery where the town’s departed citizens will be stationed at their gravestones to tell their tales of tragedy and triumph.

Tour groups will follow a magical path of 1,000 luminaries spanning a quarter mile through the shadowy cemetery and hear the lively and dramatic stories of Washington's residents from World War One. The costumed character actors stationed at each gravestone will share such stories as the perilous tales of combat in Europe; the life of a soldier stationed in muddy rat infested trenches; women will describe what the fascinating experiences they had as nurses and YMCA workers; summer residents from New York City will talk about how they joined forces with the locals to form war relief organizations such as the Sister Susie Society on the home front; and so much more.

The tours depart from the Museum in groups of fifteen people every 10 minutes between 6:30-8:30 pm, and last approximately 45 minutes. Numbers for the tours are handed out at the Museum starting at 6:15pm.  A Halloween themed movie will be shown and treats will be served in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library as you wait for your tour group to depart. The Museum will also be open for viewing of the exhibit, Over There: Washington and the Great War. The cemetery is dark and cold, please bring a flashlight with you and dress warmly.

 While this event is free, donations are always appreciated. The rain date is Sunday October 26. The Gunn Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Wykeham Road and Route 47, on Washington Green, Connecticut. Parking at the Gunn is limited, please use nearby lots and side streets. Call 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for information.   

Wednesday Workshops Challenge Kids’ Creativity

Every Wednesday now through December 17, the Westport Historical Society has organized a series of workshops for curious creative kids from 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.  These fun workshops will allow kids ages 6 to 12 years old  to create a new project each week.

The workshops will be a fun way to encourage kids to explore their creativity.  Projects will be of interest for kids with a variety of interests.  For the child fascinated by technology, there’s “Industrial Revolution Robots,” where kids will make their own bots from nuts and bolts. For the budding artist there are workshops on how to make folk art signs and decoupage treasure boxes. Workshops on making sock dolls, parchment paper, scary Halloween stuff, antique toy reproductions and holiday gifts round out the syllabus.

“Wednesday Workshops,” Wednesdays, Oct. 1-Dec. 17, 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. Ages 5-12. There is a $25 per session fee, $20 for members. For 10 sessions, the fee is $150 members, $200 non-members; includes all supplies. Reservations suggested: (203) 222-1424. For additional information visit  http://westporthistory.org.

New Show at Franklin Street through November 9

This fall, the Franklin Street Works presents It Narratives: The Movement of  Objects as Information, an exhibition featuring artists' projects that engage the  postal system and its intersections with digital communications media. The artists  in It Narratives find forms for everyday experiences of distance and time by  reflecting on the way objects move through information networks. The exhibition  is curated by New York-based guest curators Brian Droitcour and Zanna Gilbert  and will be on view through November 9, 2014.

Artist: Frank Heath

Title: Bcc: Fort Lafayette Island / David's Island (Bed) 

Medium: Powder Coated Steel, Photograph, Postage

Year: 2013

Photography by: Frank Heath 

With areas of expertise in mail art (Gilbert) and Internet art (Droitcour), the  curators take into consideration how Internet technology and digital forms of  commerce have changed the way artists use the postal system. Mail art emerged  in the late 1960s as a collective, networked medium allowing artists to circulate  and exchange works and ideas in a sphere uncontrolled by curators, institutions,  the art market, or state censorship. Today, mail is employed less frequently as an  artistic medium, in keeping with an overall shift in how information is experienced  and exchanged. News and greetings from friends and family have migrated from  the postal system to the faster networks of email and social media, yet "snail  mail" has not become obsolete. Sending objects over great distances is part of  online commerce. Print-on-demand services that allow users to design their own  T-shirts, books, or mugs with a few clicks of a mouse connect Internet browsing and data input to receiving objects by mail and handling them in everyday life. 

It Narratives: The Movement of Objects as Information takes its title from a prose genre popular in the late 18th century, the “it-narrative.” These were accounts of objects circulating in the structures of emergent industrialized capitalist markets written in the first-person from the perspective of the objects. It Narratives the exhibition updates this concept for the 21st century by presenting artists' projects that track the movement of objects online and by mail, taking measure of the physical and emotional experiences of time and distance inherent to these networks.

artist: Lance Wakeling

Title: video still from A Tour of the AC-1 Transatlantic Submarine Cable 

Year: 2011

Medium: video 

Exhibiting artists include: Greg Allen, Tyler Coburn, Tim Devin, Yevgeniy Fiks, Lukas Geronimas, Frank Heath, David Horvitz, Jean Keller, Alexandra Lerman,  Kristin Lucas, Cat Mazza, Kristina Lee Podesva and Alan McConchie, Paul  Soulellis, Emily Spivack, The Thread, Ehren Tool, Print All Over Me, Forms of  Melancholy, Lance Wakeling, Roberto Winter.

 Franklin Street Works is located at 41 Franklin Street in downtown Stamford,  Connecticut, near the UCONN campus and less than one hour from New York  City via Metro North. Franklin Street Works is approximately one mile (a 15  minute walk) from the Stamford train station. On street parking is available on  Franklin Street (metered until 6 pm except on Sunday), and paid parking is  available nearby in a lot on Franklin Street and in the Summer Street Garage  (100 Summer Street), behind Target. The art space and café are open to the public on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and  Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with extended hours on Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00  p.m. Franklin Street Works does not charge for admission during regular gallery hours.

Audubon Greenwich offers late Oct. family fun

Audubon Greenwich located on 613 Riversville Road has several exciting events planned for late October that are sure to please young and old alike.

On Sunday, October 19, the Audubon has planned two family fun events.  The first event, a Wild Bird Banding Demonstration begins at 12:30 p.m.  This hour long demonstration will show how scientists study bird migration, health, and ecology using ‘bird ID bands’ that are placed on birds, large and small, as they pass through the Audubon’s 285-acre sanctuary in Greenwich, CT. After a short learning session indoors, guests will venture into the field for an up-close bird encounter with bird banding expert, Sean Graesser. All ages welcome.$10/person includes cookies & cider afterwards. RSVP required & space limited.

The bird banding demonstration is followed by an Autumn Nature Art Class that will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Special guest teacher, Adriana Rostovsky, will show how to create textures and collages with autumn treasures found outdoors. These sessions willfocus on using natural items like grasses, cones, seed heads and other itemsto create nature-themed decorations. All ages welcome. $25 for first two peopleand $5 per additional. RSVP required & space limited.

On Saturday, October 25, the Audubon Greenwich will host an Enchanted Orchard and Live Animal Show from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. This fun Halloween-themed evening for the whole family. Meet kid-friendly, costumed animal characters on a tour of the ‘Enchanted Orchard’. After the tour, participants will enjoy dinner, treats and a live animal show, too. Costumes welcome but are not required! All ages are welcome to this event and it is $10 per person. Space very limited so RSVPs & parent supervision is required. The rain date for this event is October 30.

Ride a vintage train to a pumpkin field

It's the Fall harvest season so what better way to celebrate and welcome in the cooler weather than with a short ride on a vintage train to the Danbury Railway Museum's Pumpkin Patch. This popular annual family event will take place on October 18-19 and 25-26; Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sundays from noon to 4:00 PM at the museum, with trains departing hourly beginning ½-hour after opening each day. Admission is $10.00 for ages 2 and over; children under 24 months are free.

Visitors will ride the Pumpkin Patch Train through the historic rail yard in a 1920's passenger coach, pulled by a vintage ALCo RS-1 diesel-electric locomotive* to the special pumpkin patch where each child will receive a free pumpkin. 

Of course, the exhibits, artifacts, and multiple operating model train layouts inside the restored 100-year old Danbury station will be open for your education and entertainment. The kids can also enjoy the free activities such as the "coloring station," temporary tattoos, cider & cookies, and more. There is a fully-stocked gift shop on the premises. No reservations are required; the event will be held rain or shine. Children are encouraged to come in costume.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT and has many artifacts of area railroading on display, including over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives. For further information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337. For area information on Litchfield Hills visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Connecticut Artists and Playwrights Festival at the Warner Theatre

The Warner Theatre on Main Street in Torrington Connecticut in the center of the Litchfield Hills is hosting the 3rd Annual International Playwrights Festival.  The Festival is a celebration of new works by playwrights from across the country and around the globe. For the third year, over 200 plays were submitted from across the United States and Canada and as far away as Australia, Israel and Great Britain. 12 winners have been selected.

The festival will consist of three nights of performances by the top three winning playwrights featuring four playwrights each night. 

On Thursday, October 16 at 8 pm - BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO GROW UP  JULIET will be featured.  This play was written by Rex McGregor from Auckland, New Zealand.  This will be followed by FIREFLY IN AUGUST by Sheila Curran Bernard  from New York, MOVES LIKE JAGGER by Suzanne Bailie from Washington, and  THE COUNTER OFFER by David L. Williams  from Pennsylvania.

On Friday, October 17 at 8 pm - I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WHATEVER by Cynthia "Andy" Landis  from Tennessee will start off the evening.  This performance will be followed by  CRACKED by Gwydion Suilebhan  from Maryland,  TIME TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE COMPLEXION by Shari D. Frost  from Massachusetts, and  CUTHBERT'S LAST STAND by Andrew Biss  fromPennsylvania.

On Saturday, October 18 at 8 pm  the first performance will be CAPTIVE AUDIENCE SWORD PLAY* (By Invitation only)  by Charlene A. Donaghy from Connecticut.  This play will be followed by CHECKING THE BASEMENT FOR LEAKS by Doug DeVita  from New York,  BUDDHISTS IN THE BASEMENT by Mary Beth Smith from Massachusetts,  CAPTIVE AUDITION by Paul Braverman  from California and  THE ELEVEN O'CLOCK NUMBER by Julie Weinberg  from New York.

Tickets are $15 per night or $30 for all three nights. For tickets, call the Box Office at 860-489-7180 or visit www.warnertheatre.org.

On Sunday, October 19 at 3 p.m. the Warner is hosting the Connecticut Artists & Playwrights Festival that brings together visual art featuring Connecticut artists exhibiting in Torrington's Five Points Gallery with Connecticut playwrights to create new ten-minute plays that will be produced at the Warner Theatre's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre.

The Connecticut Artists & Playwrights Festival recognizes the work of emerging and established artists from across the state. It gives visual artists an opportunity for their art to serve as inspiration for a piece of dramatic writing. It gives playwrights a forum for production of their ten-minute plays that are inspired by one of three pieces of visual art.

THIS YEAR'S ARTISTS & PLAYWRIGHTS:

ANNUNCIATION – Judith Thorpe
VENUS SMILED by Steven Otfinoski (Stratford, CT)
FLIP by Jonathan Yukich (Hamden, CT)
QUELCHED by Robert Schneider (New Haven, CT)

THE SEQUENCE – Katherine Myers
THE SEQUENCE by Bob Tilton (Storrs, CT)
LOBSTER SPECIAL by Mara Dresner (Rocky Hill, CT)
CIRCLING THE GLOBE by Victoria Z. Daly (Goshen, CT)

OMNES ORGANUM TRIPLUM – Pam Bramble
TO TELL THE TRUTH by Allan Appel (New Haven, CT)
FAULT by Julie Weinberg (Goshen, CT)
YOUR EYES, THE STARS by Darcy Parker Bruce (Norwich, CT)

Tickets are $15, for tickets, call the Box Office at (860) 489-7180 or visit www.warnertheatre.org

Pastoral Solitudes and Landscape Paintings at the Gregory James Gallery

Contemporary realist and Connecticut native Thomas C. Adkins has spent years meandering through the hills and farms of Litchfield County, searching for the perfect view. Rather than seeking out new landscapes, Adkins finds inspiration in the familiar and captures on canvas the emotion or feeling that is evoked when something suddenly appears fresh and new. 

Adkins, who will present 30 new works, both Plein Air and studio paintings, in a one-man show, “Pastoral Solitudes,” at the Gregory James Gallery in New Milford. The show continues through November 4^th. All of the paintings were produced over the past two years and reflect the farms and untouched landscapes of Connecticut’s Northwest Corner. A few marine paintings were inspired by scenes near Adkins’ home in Maine, where as a boy, he spent summer vacations with his family. 

Most of his paintings are derived from small sketches made on location, which Adkins refers to later in the studio, making subtle changes in color and light to evoke a mood, the season or time of day.

The green and gold fields of “Northern Farm Early Spring” draw the eye up to an aging grey barn illuminated by sunlight peeking over the hills beyond the farm. The last remnants of snow are visible on hilltops and the bare branches of trees stretch toward a pale sky tinged with purple. The interplay of light and shadow hint at a scene captured just before sunset, or perhaps slightly after sunrise.

The change of season is evident in “Fall Diagonal Light Kent,” which features a pair of barns, bookends to a white farmhouse, tucked beneath leafy green trees tinged with orange. The last slanting rays of sun fall over the scene from beyond the frame of the painting as thick clouds move in from the opposite side.

Looking at “Lake Waramaug Summer,” the viewer seems to be perched on the path, in the same spot Adkins set up his easel, pausing to take in the view of the lake and green the hills sloping down to its edges. There is a small farm tucked into the hillside, yet there is a sense that the viewer is able to take in this tranquil scene alone. Adkins calls it “a snapshot of the moment. You get a true sense of the atmosphere and the feeling for the place.”

A graduate of Paier College of Art of New Haven, Adkins completed graduate classes at the School of Visual Arts of New York. He has worked as art director and creative director for some of the most prestigious advertising agencies in Connecticut and New York. 

As a contemporary painter, Adkins’ style and technique has developed from early influences by Impressionistic painters of light on nature, such as Monet, Pissaro, Willard Metcalf. Adkins’ work is featured in private collections throughout the United States and abroad. His paintings have been shown in galleries and exhibitions in Connecticut and New England, including the New Britain Museum of American Art, The Butler Institute Of American, Old Lyme Association, Gregory James Gallery, Greene Art Gallery and at Bayview Gallery in Brunswick, Me. A member of the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society and the Association of Oil Painters of America, he participated in the prestigious International Marine Art Exhibition at The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport. In 2014, he will be one of a select few award-winning artists from seven countries selected to participate in the 35^th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition at Mystic Seaport.

The Gregory James Gallery is located at 93 Park Lane Road (Route 202) in New Milford, about 100 feet from the intersection of Route 109. For more information, please call (860) 354-3436 or visit www.gregoryjamesgallery.com.

5th CT Regiment Revolutionary War Encampment in Easton

The Historical Society of Easton and Easton's Parks and Recreation Department, have organized a day of living history on Saturday October 11th when the 5th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment encamps on the grounds of the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead for an unforgettable experience that young and old will enjoy.

Children and adults can drill with the regimental soldiers and watch as they fire their weapons. Practice loading and drilling with a Revolutionary War cannon. Learn about life at camp and on the home front from soldiers, surgeons, cooks, and other colonial re-enactors. There will even be a surprise attack by British marines!

The 5th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment is made up of local individuals that enjoy learning and teaching about the history of America. Members include men, women, and children from the surrounding areas that are dedicated to the creation of a living history experience for their community. By including women and children in the regiment, a broader representation of colonial life beyond the military is brought to each event.

This Regiment was created in 1974 and is based on the original 5th Connecticut regiments during the Revolutionary War. The original 5th Connecticut was mustered in May 1775 as one of the six regiments formed by Connecticut in response to the events at Lexington and Concord, MA. It was made up of officers and men from Fairfield County. Easton (which was then part of Fairfield) would have sent soldiers to this regiment. Due to illness and casualties, the regiment only lasted one year. It was re-formed in early 1777 under the direction of Colonel Philip Burr Bradley. As the regiment was being mustered, the British launched the raid on Danbury and Colonel Bradley responded with roughly 50 untrained troops. The 5th Connecticut played a vital role in the defense of Ridgefield and two of its soldiers, Private Bradley Dean and Sergeant Clement Lloyd, were killed. The connection to local history makes this encampment a truly spectacular opportunity for the Historical Society of Easton.

This event will take place on Saturday October 11th between 11 AM to 3 PM at the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead 535 Black Rock Road, Easton, CT. (Rain Date: Saturday October 18th). The admission cost for the event will be $5 per person, $20 per family, and children under 5 will be admitted for free. Admission will be half-price for Historical Society Members.

THREE TOP FALL FESTIVALS LURE FOOD LOVERS TO WESTERN CONNECTICUT

The aroma of steaming chowder, the tantalizing scent of garlic, and the chance to sample the best specialties of Iceland await autumn visitors to Western Connecticut, home to three of the season's top food festivals.

Chowdafest, New England's largest cooking competition, will be held at Norwalk's Calf Pasture Beach on October 12, a new location spacious enough to accommodate the growing fan base, while another popular event, the tenth annual Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival takes place October 11-12, 2014 at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds. The following Saturday, October 18, the fifth annual Iceland Affair and Fire and Ice Music Festival once again will bring fans to Winchester, CT. for a rare treat, one of only two such festivals in the United States.  

YOU ARE THE JUDGE AT CHOWDAFEST

At this SOUPerbowl of festivals to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank, attendees are the judges as more than two dozen of the regions best restaurants compete in four categories: classic New England Clam Chowder, Traditional Manhattan and Rhode Island chowders, “creative” chowders that might be anything from sweet potato to Cajun shrimp, and bisque soups such as Butternut Squash and Golden Corn.  Everyone receives a spoon, pencil and ballot and can sample unlimited chowder and soups, grading entries on a scale from 7 to 10. Winners are announced at the end of the event.

For tasting variety, samples are offered at the Cheese and Cracker Corner, at ChowdaMex featuring salsas and chips and at a beverage center stocked with beer and wine.  The ChowdaKIDS area will provide samples of ice cream and milk as well as free chef hats, coloring books and stickers provided by Stop & Shop, the event sponsor.

Admission is $10 in advance for adults, $15 at the door on October 11. Ages 6 to 12 pay $5, children under 6 are free. Hours are 12 noon to 4 p.m. Proceeds from this food festival to fight hunger have provided over 100,000 meals for the CT Food Bank. For information, see www.chowdafest.org

GARLIC IN ITS GLORY

Foodies flock each year to the Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival where they enjoy cooking demonstrations, informative food talks, lessons in growing garlic, plus free samplings of garlic dips, spreads, cheeses and oils from specialty food vendors. Visitors can buy farm-fresh garlic as well as other bounty from the fall harvest. All of that is the warm-up for some serious eating that includes treats like homemade roasted garlic sausage with peppers and onions, garlic marinated steak sandwiches, garlic roast pork sandwiches, deep fried garlic, and even garlic ice cream.

Live bands add to the festive feel, fine artisans are on hand offering hand made crafts and young visitors will find rides and games to keep them entertained.

The Garlic Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday October 11 and 12

at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds, Route 61 just north of town.  Adult admission is $7, under age 12, just $1. Find more details at www.garlicfestct.com

TAKE A TRIP TO ICELAND

One woman's love affair with Iceland was the spark that began this unusual festival. Gerri Griswold, a former chef and current broadcaster, visited the “land of fire and ice” and fell in love.

She has made over a dozen trips to Iceland since 2002 and in 2009, decided to introduce more Americans to their northern neighbor in what she thought would be a one-time event in her home town.  Instead, the Iceland Affair keeps growing. At this year's fifth edition at Winchester Center's Grange Hall visitors will hear experts talk about Iceland's arts and amazing nature, see prize photography of the land's lavish geysers and waterfalls, and will be able to sample authentic Icelandic foods such as goat sausage, smoked and dried fish, sensational chocolates and licorice, the special local yogurt known as skyr, pure Icelandic water, and what Griswold calls the best hot dogs in the world. On the Winchester Center Green the public will meet Iceland’s biologically pure animals including Icelandic horses, sheep, sheep dogs, and chickens. The event will be held on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All the day's activities are free.

At night, the original small concert in a barn has morphed into the Fire & Ice Festival, to be held this year at Infinity Hall in Norfolk at 8 p.m. Those attending will hear a host of top entertainers rarely seen in this country, and, perhaps discover the next Bjork, Iceland's best known performer in the U.S.. For details on the festival and information on concert tickets, see http://icelandaffair.com or phone 860-307-6144.

For more information about lodging and other activities in the area 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.visitwesternct.com