CONNECTICUT’S PRIVATE HOMES OPEN DOORS FOR ONCE-A-YEAR HOLIDAY HOUSE TOURS

It happens only once a year.  For the first two weeks in December, some of the finest private homes in Fairfield County and the Litchfield Hills will invite visitors in for one-day only during house tours to benefit local organizations.  Tours in the towns of Woodbury, Westport and Greenwich will offer a rare chance to see exceptional residences dressed in their holiday best.

A 20^th ANNIVERSARY IN WOODBURY

One of the most popular tours will mark its 20^th anniversary when the Woodbury Holiday House Tour takes place on December 13 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Litchfield Hills to benefit the Woman’s Club of Woodbury. On the day of the tour, tickets will be available for $30 starting at 9 a.m. at the Senior and Community Center, 265 Main Street South.

Six special homes chosen for this landmark year range from a 14-year-old contemporary with a fabulous kitchen to an antique-filled 250 year-old home including an artist’s studio.  A restored 200-year-old schoolhouse will be seen on the spacious grounds of an elegant Colonial reproduction home, and a handsome mid-20^th century Colonial features the studio of its sculptor-owner. See a complete list and details at www.womansclubofwoodbury.org

“ROOMS WITH A VIEW” IN WESTPORT

Interior designers, artists and architects are the owners of this year’s five homes in the annual Westport House Tour on December 7 to benefit the Westport Historical Society They include a Nantucket-style cottage at Compo Beach with a roof-top deck overlooking the water, and a hilltop chateau with sweeping vistas. Three of the houses are owned by interior designers, providing the chance to see how professionals decorate for the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons. A pianist will play at one of the homes, and several will be serving hot cider, hot chocolate, and holiday sweets.

Following the tour a Twilight Soiree hosted by the Lillian August Store in Norwalk from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. will feature wine, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction for prizes such as an America’s Cup Cruise, getaways to a Cape Cod vacation home and a mountain ski house, and a painting by Weston artist Kerri Rosenthal, whose home and studio are part of the tour. For more information, see http://westporthistory.org.

SHOWPLACES OPEN DOORS IN GREENWICH

One tour that always attracts visitors is The Antiquarius House Tour in Greenwich, a Fairfield County town known for its lavish residences. This year’s tour on Wednesday, December 10 will showcase five spectacular homes ranging in location from the shores of Long Island Sound to estates in the wooded backcountry. What all have in common is their always-spectacular holiday finery.

The tour is part of a weeklong Antiquarius event to benefit the Greenwich Historical Society that includes the annual Greenwich Winter Antiques Show on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7 at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. For full schedules, see www.hstg.org/antiquarius.

For more information about house tours 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 the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, or visit their web site at www.visitwesternct.com.

Feed the Birds at Sharon Audubon Center

Audubon Sharon will be hosting a free “Winter Bird Feeding 101” program with Harlan Hyde of Aspen Song Wild Bird Food on Saturday, December 6^th at 10:00am as part of the Mega-Nature Store Sale at the Sharon Audubon Center, located on Route 4 in Sharon, CT.

Do you enjoy watching the birds at your feeders but don't know what types of birds they are?  Do you like to feed the birds, but are not sure which types of seed to offer or what kind of bird feeder to fill?  Harlan will help you to understand which types of seeds most birds prefer and why, which feeders work best for your bird feeding set up, and how to identify some of the common species visiting your feeder this winter.  

All bird seed and bird feeders will be on sale as part of the Mega-Nature Store Sale this day, so you can leave the Center knowledgeable, prepared and stocked up for the winter bird feeding season!

The Audubon Sharon Nature Store Sale takes place from December 6^th through December 13^th.  During the sale, you'll find great discounts on various types of bird feeders, bird seed (including our very own Northwest Corner Blend,) t-shirts, toys, kids' books, field guides, knick-knacks, coffee, ornaments, bird baths and so much more!  Everything in our store will be on sale during the Mega-Sale on Dec. 6th and 7th!  

On December 14, the Sharon Audubon is sponsoring an all day event called Trixie Strauss Christmas Bird Count that is free and open to the public. Audubon Sharon will once again be taking part in this count and they love to have people join them!  

The count area is a 15 mile circle with its center at Hotchkiss School, and includes good birding areas in Sharon, Salisbury, Amenia and Northeast. Teams from all over the state and country take part in Christmas Bird Count. The numbers are compiled and reported to help better understand flock formation and migrations.

For more information and for store hours, contact the Audubon Center at (860) 364-0520 or www.sharon.audubon.org.

For information on Litchfield Hills and Holiday events visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Clare Romano & John Ross: 70 Years of Printmaking at Center for Contemporary Printmaking

The fall exhibition, featuring a sampling from the extensive collection of original prints by Clare Romano and John Ross,  at The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP), 299 West Ave., in Mathews Park, Norwalk, runs through Sunday, December 14, 2014.

Clare Romano, "Silver Canyon"

Gallery visitors have the opportunity to view original prints made by these preeminent printmaking artists, educators, and authors—husband and wife, each with their own acclaimed individual careers—who have made the fine art of printmaking, with a particular emphasis on the art of the collagraph, their life's work.

Clare Romano and John Ross had a major influence on the art printmaking and printmaking students. For many, their text, "The Complete Printmaker", represented the next wave in printmaking. The exhibition showcases landscapes and cityscapes, lithographs, etchings, silkscreens, woodcuts, letterpress and, of course, collagraphs. Visitors will discover novel and innovative images using silk aquatint, asymmetrically cut plates, and the combination of intaglio and relief on the same plate.

John Ross, "Duomo

The Center has scheduled an Artists Talk and Book Signing with John and Tim Ross for December 10 from 7 to 8:30 pm.  Clare Romano and John Ross wrote and illustrated a number of books together, the first entitled Manhattan Island (1957) and the most important publication, The Complete Printmaker, originally published in 1972 is now in its second edition with Artist/Printmaker and Educator Tim Ross joining his parents as co-author. The Complete Printmaker is still used as a printmaking text in college classrooms today. 

Normal hours are Tuesday through Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. The gallery is closed on Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Admission is free, and the gallery is handicapped accessible. For more information visit http://www.contemprints.org.

For information on Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

A Time for Stories in Washington at the Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies traditionally believes that autumn is the season for telling stories that begins with the first frost.  The Institute has planned a very special story session on November 29 at 12:30 p.m.

It is a time of great excitement as the Storyteller travels from village to village, from home to home.  It is a time when everyone gathers around to share in this wonderful time, to hear what it was like when the world was new. Storytelling was and still is an integral part of the Native American tradition.

Stories were an important method of teaching the young; of passing down culture from one generation to the next. They hold many lessons and teach us the values of our cultures and show us how to live in our worlds. They often describe unacceptable behavior and express, enhance and enforce the morals and norms of tribal society.

Visitors are invited to join and enjoy this the time honored tradition of Native American Stories that teach, intrigue and entertain people of all ages. During this special time of year, gather with storyteller Janis "Four Hearts Whispering" Us, Mohawk/Shinnecock descent to enjoy her delightful and heartwarming traditional Native American stories.

"We tell our stories to entertain, but they do much more than that. They teach life's important lessons -- to young and old alike. Stories can explain the natural world around us and connect us to our past" (Janis "Four Hearts Whispering"Us) Please call for reservations. $8 Adults; $10 Children.

Music and Nature: Can you Hear It? at Audubon Greenwich

Nature has inspired many musical scores and the Aubudon Greenwich along with the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra is hosting a Curiosity Concert - Music and Nature on November 16 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Music and Nature: Can you Hear It? will feature principal players from the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra and includes Phillip Bashor on the clarinet, Andrew Gordon on the piano, Daniel Miller on the cello and Susan Rotholz on the flute.

 A quintet of our own Symphony's principal players will explore nature themes in music with selections from: Camille Saint-Saens * The Carnival of the Animals, Serge Prokofiev * Peter and the Wolf, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov * Flight of the Bumblebee, Claude Debussy * The Snow is Dancing, and Antonio Vivaldi * Four Seasons.

The concert will take place at the Audubon's Kimberlin Nature Education Center located on 613 Riversville Rd. in Greenwich.  For more information and reservations call 203-869-5272 ext. 349. or email greenwichcenter@audubon.org.  For more information about Greenwich Audubon http://greenwich.audubon.org.

The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1958, and since 1975 has been led by Music Director and Conductor David Gilbert. Associate Conductor Tara Simoncic conducts GSO's Young People's Concerts - free concerts for 2nd through 7th graders from all Greenwich schools. For more information about GSO's 2014/15 season, visit www.greenwichsymphony.org.

Flying for France in Washington Connecticut

Dr. Walter Powell will give the free presentation, “Flying for France: The Lafayette Escadrille and the Lafayette Flying Corps in WWI” on Saturday, November, 15 at 11:00 am in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum in Washington, Connecticut.

 The release in 2006 of the movie “Flyboys” has renewed interest in those Americans who flew for France before the United States entered World War One in April 1917. The combat experiences of Victor Chapman, Bert Hall, Norman Hall, James McConnell, Kiffin Rockwell, and leading ace Raoul Lufbery captured America’s imagination. In this illustrated lecture, Dr. Powell will revisit some of their exploits, and those of the Lafayette Flying Corps that followed.

Dr. Powell is the Executive Director of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He has lectured widely on WWI and has guided tours of WWI battlefields in Europe. He holds an M.A. in History and a Ph.D. in English from Kent State University. For 17 years he served as Director of Planning and Historic Preservation for the Borough of Gettysburg, PA. He is also a former historic preservation consultant and adjunct professor in the Graduate Program in Applied History at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. In September 2009 he joined his father in participating in the “WWI Fly In” at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

The exhibit, Over There: Washington and The Great War, will be open for viewing in the Gunn Museum from 10am-4pm, the day of this lecture. The exhibit shares the story of Washington, Connecticut’s contribution to WWI. The exhibit and associated programs are supported in part by a grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation.

Admission to the lecture and exhibit is free. The Gunn Library and Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Wykeham Road and Rt. 47, on Washington Green. Call the Museu m 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for more information.

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Explores Mark Twain’s Victorian Holiday Traditions

On Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 11 a.m. at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, CT, Curator Patricia Philippon will give a talk entitled, A Clemens Christmas, which will highlight the Christmas celebrations that took place in the Hartford home of Mark Twain.

This lecture will discuss Victorian holiday traditions, as well as provide a virtual walk-through of the Clemens 19- room, Tiffany-decorated mansion decked out for the family's holiday celebrations, from 1874 to 1891, when the author, his wife, and three daughters lived in the house. 

This lecture will lead the audience throughout the house, starting with a "kissing ball" of mistletoe and the home's massive staircase wreathed in garlands and ribbons. Along with the holiday decorations Ms. Philippon will discuss Clemens’ own holiday sentiments and introduce lecture goers to Mark Twain’s storytelling side, his humor, and his endearing thoughts on this cherished family tradition.

Patricia Philippon is the Executive Director of the American Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut and was the chief curator of The Mark Twain House & Museum from 2007 to 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Providence College, RI and a Masters in Art History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.          

This will be the sixth in a series of lectures entitled, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion: Seventy-Four Years of Culture - Art, Life, and Love, 1864-1938 by curators and experts in the field of Victorian era material life. The lectures are $25 for members, $30 for non-members per session. Please RSVP by Friday, November 7, 2014. The price includes lecture, lunch and a first floor Mansion tour.  Lunch is courtesy of Michael Gilmartin's Outdoor Cookers.  The chair of the Lecture Committee is Mimi Findlay of New Canaan. Please contact info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or 203-838-9799, ext. 4 to purchase tickets.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark.  For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

Holidays with Bridgeport Symphony

The Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra has an exciting holiday season planned and tickets are selling fast. Once again this year, the orchestra is returning to Saturday night concerts beginning at 8 p.m. with a special optional 7:00 PM pre-concert open to all ticket buyers. Pre-concert attendees will hear the stories and letters that have inspired the repertoire for each concert by invited narrators. Pre-concert events also allow participants closer interactions with conductors, soloists and other musicians as well as the visuals that enhance each live performance. 

On November 15 at 8 p.m. the concert called Dream of Dances will feature György Ligeti - Old Hungarian Dances, Igor Stravinsky - Suite from Pulcinella, Ludwig Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92.  The conductor, Jacomo Rafael Bairos has been described as "expressive and passionate" [Malaysian Straits Times], and lauded by the Leipziger Volkszeitung as an "impressive conductor... who is elegantly demanding", Mr. Bairos enjoys an emerging career as an imaginative and inclusive conductor, dedicated collaborator and educator, and ardent champion of living American composers.

On December 6 the orchestra has planned a special holiday concert that will also begin at 8 p.m. whose theme is A Folk Christmas.  This concert will feature the work of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky - Serenade, opus 48; Antonio Vivaldi - from The Four Seasons; Carols and folk songs and the conductor is Eric Jacobsen.   This promises to be a night of holiday cheer!

In addition, the holiday concert will highlight a performance by the Fairfield County Children's Choir conducted by Jon Noyes, Musical Director.  The Fairfield County Children's Choir (FCCC) is a community-based choral program made up of 300 children in grades four through twelve from communities in and around Fairfield County, Connecticut. The FCCC was founded in 1995 to provide children the opportunity to participate in a musical experience which is challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. The FCCC has performed throughout New England as well as in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Maryland, New Orleans, San Francisco, Oakland, Hawaii, Canada, England, Ireland, Austria and the Czech Republic. The group has shared the stage with such artists as Renee Fleming, Charles Strouse, Stephen Schwartz, Lawrence Gilgore, Sam Waterston, Christopher Plummer, Nick Page, Ivan Rutherford, Michelle Mallardi, Henry Leck, Bob Chilcott, Jean Ashworth Bartle, Tom Chapin and Rob Hugh. We welcome FCCC back to perform a 2nd time with GBS!

There will also be a performance by Sara Watkins who plays the fiddle and has spent nearly two decades, as singer and fiddle player for the Grammy Award–winning, bluegrass-folk hybrid Nickel Creek, a trio she'd started performing in when she was a mere eight years old. As a solo artist as the BBC put it, "Watkins' time in the spotlight is a triumph with her agile playing and the kind of voice that gives your goose bumps the shivers."

The final performer is Aoife O'Donovon, best known as the founder and frontwoman of the string band Crooked Still. She is also one-third of the female trio Sometymes Why, and has appeared on the Prairie Home Companion radio program. She has collaborated with artists as varied as jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas, Yo-Yo Ma's Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile's Goat Rodeo Sessions band, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Olabelle, to name just a few.

All performances are at the Klein Memorial Auditorium on 910 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport. For ticket information call 203-576-0263 or visit http://www.gbs.org.

Bruce Museum Store to Host Special Holiday Shopping Night

The Bruce Museum will hold a special holiday shopping night at their Museum store next Thursday, November 13 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Admission to the Museum is not required to visit the Museum shop.

People like to shop at the Bruce Museum Store because they carry unique things in many different categories. Chances are you’ll find something for everyone on your list somewhere in the shop.  The special holiday shopping night at the Museum on Thursday, November 13 will include  complimentary wine and cheese in addition to a rare evening shopping opportunity at the Museum.

The Museum has extended its regular store hours to facilitate holiday shopping throughout the season.
From now until Christmas, the store will be open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (December 22, 10
a.m. to noon) and Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Bruce Museum Store is located in the lobby of the Museum at One Museum Drive in Greenwich.  For additional information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376 or visit the website at https://brucemuseum.org.

For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Gunn Memorial Library’s Book Basement Boasts New Stock

The staff at the Gunn Memorial Library in Washington has been busy cleaning out old merchandise and restocking the shelves with "new" used books.  The book basement has re-opened and is a treasure trove of finds for book lovers.  The book basement is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 2.

Visitors are invited to browse the newly added fiction, non-fiction, biography, history and children's books. The history section has been organized into major wars as well as American and European categories and more. There is an entire wall of new fiction. The new stock includes "specials" - frequently collectible and highly sought after titles priced far less than what can be found on internet book sites. A large collection of books about antiques will be featured, among which the series, American Furniture by Luke Beckerdite, is covering 1993 to 2010. A selection of Irish literature includes many signed books of poetry. There is even a section of local authors and many are autographed.

If you haven't been to the Book Basement before, now is the time! There are over 8,000 books on varied topics and for every age. Since the Book Basement is constantly restocking, if you miss the first day of opening, do not be dismayed – come in another day to find additional titles that have been added. It is a bibliophile's cornucopia!

The Gunn Memorial Library is located on 5 Wykeham Road in Washington Connecticut.  For more information call 860-868-7586 or visit http://www.gunnlibrary.org.

November Naturally at White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation located just off Rte. 202 on Whites Wood Road in Litchfield has planned a fun filled November for nature lovers. 

On November 5 take a brisk walk with Gerri Griswold  then relax with a super healthy meal.  The objective is to share recipes, learn how to use herbs and spices to create wonderfully delicious meals that will keep you focused on your goal and to use this beautiful property to help you become the very best you can be. As for the featured dish of the night it is a Hearty Vegetarian Chili, Mesclun Greens with Oranges, Avocado, and Toasted Almonds, and Fresh Fruit. Make sure you dress for the weather and pack a flashlight!  And, don't forget to bring your own place setting! This event starts at 6:00 P.M., at the  A.B. Ceder Room, Members: $15.00 Non-members: $25.00. Limited to 20 people! Pre-registration and prepayment are required.

On November 8, stop by Point Folly on the grounds of the Foundation anytime between 9 am and 12 pm to do some birdwatching with the new Education Director Carrie Szwed and don't forget your binoculars to spot winter migrants and arrivals at this free event.  

On November 15, get your paintbrush ready for a class with world renowned botanical artist Betsy Rogers-Knox!  This is a great opportunity to learn techniques of botanical illustration from a pro. The class is for all levels of experience. All supplies are included. Ages 12 and up. 1:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $35.00 Non-members: $45.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

If you give a "Hoot" then the felting workshop with Robin McCahill should be on your calendar for November 22 from 10 am - 4 pm. This is a perfect opportunity to create a handmade gift for a loved one (or to keep yourself!). Using soft wool and a special barbed felting needle, sculpt a night time owl of your choice. This one day workshop will enable you to finish your bird in time to adorn your home for the holidays. Learn some of the nocturnal habits of the famed owls while you work. All materials included!   Members: $55.00, Non-members: $65.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

On November 23, there will be an afternoon Green Man Concert with with Michael McDermott and Friends Benefit Concert Supporting The White Memorial Conservation Center. he Green Man is a mysterious, eerie figure depicted mainly in medieval European stonework, believed to represent an ancient vegetation deity. It is nearly always depicted as a "foliate head," that is, a face made of leaves and vines. Sometimes it appears as a human face peering out from leaves, other times with animal features. This joyful afternoon with ridiculously talented purveyor of joy, Michael McDermott and his band "Cead Mile Failte" Gaelic for "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes", will include music by Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Irish singer / songwriter Luka Bloom, and many more. What a splendid way to spend the Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving! 100% of the proceeds from this concert benefit the Conservation Center. 2:00 P.M., Carriage House, Members: $15.00 Non-members: $20.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

To finish the month, on November 29, take a walk with Gerri Griswold along the Cranberry Pond Trail and cap off the walk with a cup of hot coffee and a thick wedge of Crimson Pie swimming in a pool of thick ginger crème anglaise! Meet in the Museum. 2:00 P.M., We'll drive over to the trail head together. FREE...Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center's programming expenses.

For more information about White Memorial Foundation visit http://www.whitememorialcc.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Delightful, Delicious, Disgusting: Paintings by Mia Brownell 2003-2013 at the Housatonic Museum of Art

Twenty-eight of Mia Brownell's paintings will be on display at the Housatonic Museum of Art in the Burt Chernow Galleries from through November 17, 2014. Luscious and sensuous, Mia Brownell's paintings invite us to indulge in "earthly delights" and are themselves ripe with sexual innuendo.

What Brownell asks us to contemplate is the brevity of life. "We begin in the madness of carnal desire and the transport of voluptuousness," wrote the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, "we end in the dissolution of all our parts and the musty stench of corpses." Seventeenth century Dutch still life paintings of tables laden with gastronomic delights served to remind viewers that all things perish but Brownell's fruits invite us to relish the sweetness of now.

Although Mia Brownell's paintings "may recall classical Vanitas paintings, her food-based compositions also invoke contemporary food politics. A critic of the food industrial complex, Brownell creates a juxtaposition between the natural and artificial, modeling her opulent still-lifes after molecular structures. Her depictions of shiny apples, bead-like caviar and juicy grapes look almost too good to be edible, hence the title of her upcoming traveling solo show, Delightful, Delicious, Disgusting.

The exhibition, which premiered at J. Cacciola Gallery in New York, is a ten-year survey of Brownell's paintings (2003-2013) travelled to the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, New Jersey, Juniata College Museum of Art in Pennsylvania and the final stop at Housatonic Museum of Art in Connecticut."

Gallery hours: Monday- Friday from 8:30am until 5:30pm, Thursdays until 7pm, Saturday from 9am until 3pm and Sunday Noon until 4pm.  Please note that the Gallery will be CLOSED Monday. October 13th.  For more information visit http://www.housatonic.edu/artmuseum/index.asp