Ride the Rails - A Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour

On July 31 something sweet is going on in Thomaston Connecticut at the Railroad Museum of New England located on 242 East Main Street.  Haight Brown Vineyard, Fascia's Chocolates and the Railroad Museum of New England have teamed up and are offering the "Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour" that is a sure way to indulge in locally made wine and chocolate.   This event promises to be an unforgettable experience, because the only other place in the world where you can take a "chocolate" train is in Switzerland.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Thomaston Station off of Rte. 6 with a reception featuring hor d"oeurves, live music, wine and even wine tastings. The train departs the station at 7:15 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. there will be a bubbly toast on the face of the scenic Thomaston Dam.  Don't forget to bring your camera or cell phone for photo opportunities. There will be two other Chocolate Decadent Sunset Tours on August 28 and September 25.

The trip continues as you pass lovely scenery while savoring fine wines from Haight Vineyard, Connecticut's first farm winery and chocolates from Fascia's, a chocolate company in Waterbury that has been making delectable chocolates for more than 50 years.

At 8 p.m. guests arrive for a private tour of Fascia's Chocolate Company.  A visit to Fascia's gives you the chance to see how these delicacies are made, take a tour, taste treats, even try your hand at making your own custom bar of chocolates, and of course, load up on freshly made chocolates at the factory store.  A freshly baked chocolate lava cake will also be served.

Guests depart Fascia's Chocolate Company at 9:15 and arrive back at the Thomaston Station at 9:30 p.m.  The ticket price is $75 per person and includes a scenic train ride, wine, hor d' oeurves, Fascia's chocolates, your very own custom bar of chocolate, and dessert. To reserve your ticket visit https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/rmne/

Litchfield's “Music Night Out” Returns Thursday, July 30th

Litchfield is known for its quintessential village green, it's wonderful restaurants, lively art scene and unique shops.  To celebrate July, Litchfield merchants on the green will be staying open until 8 p.m. July 30 and will entertain visitors and residents alike with the sounds of music!

From 5 p.m.  - 8 p.m., merchants will host a variety of local musicians at various establishments along The Green, for example, the ABC Music School Jazz Combo will be performing Jazz standards from 5:30-7:30 pm outside the West St. Grill.   

In Litchfield's bucolic Cobble Courtyard, from, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  the Western Lands Trio will  perform Folk renditions.   At Ollie’s Pizzeria from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Matt & Calley will be performing indie rock/indie folk inside the restaurant and Mike Savino will be performing inside @ the Corner’s bar from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. 

This is a family fun summer event and a beautiful time of year for a stroll along West Street, while  listening to some of the area's talented  musicians, while shopping at your favorite family-owned retailers.  

The summer series concludes with “Fashion Night Out” on August 27th.   For more information https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldsNightOut

FRANTIC @ Quassy Named One Of The Most Exciting New Theme Park Rides Of The Year

FRANTIC, the spectacular family thrill ride has made its debut  at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury, Conn., this summer was recently named one of the 19 most exciting new theme park rides of the year by America Online (AOL ®).

FRANTIC accommodates eight riders in a circular configuration with the seats suspended on a huge pendulum. The seats spin as the ride swings higher and higher before doing a series of 360-degree flips. The topsy-turvy attraction is located near the Grand Carousel.

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark also features more than two-dozen rides and attractions.  Popular rides in the park include the Wooden Warrior roller coaster, Music Fest, Free Fall ‘N drop tower, Paratrooper and the romantic Grand Carousel. Two Kiddieland areas cater to the tots with a variety of children’s rides.

On the shoreline of beautiful Lake Quassapaug, Splash Away Bay is the waterpark located on the lakefront with slides, cascading fountains and a splash pad for smaller children.

In the heart of the park is the Carousel Theatre stage with daily magic shows during the height of the season. Popular events at the stage include dance and karate days, an annual school music festival and a regional Irish dance competition.

Quassy also has a huge redemption arcade, restaurant, games, paddle boat rentals and excursions on Lake Quassapaug aboard the Quassy Queen.  For more about the park visit www.quassy.com. For more area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Music Mountain "swings" into Summer in Litchfield Hills

Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, continues its 86th season with Swingtime Big Band on Saturday, July 25th (6:30pm) playing the best music of the Swing Era! Plus pre-concert dinner at Falls Village Inn (5pm). The weekend continues on Sunday, July 26th (3pm) with the Avalon String Quartet performing Faure, Debussy, and Ravel with guest artists Jan Opalach, Bass-Baritone and Jonathan Yates, Piano and Music Mountain's new Musical Director. For the second season, Music Mountain is offering an extended summer program filled with Music Mountain debuts, first time guests, brand new series', and returning favorite bands and ensembles! Chamber, country, opera, jazz, and folk concerts are scheduled thru September 27th.

Swingtime Big Band returns for their 8th annual Music Mountain appearance on Saturday evening thrilling concert audiences and Ballroom dancers alike with authentic recreations of the timeless swing music of such great Big Band leaders as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey. Under the leadership of saxophonist and artistic director Steve Shaiman, the band is dedicated to the performance of America's greatest popular standards. The 20-piece authentic swing band, comprised of master interpreters of music from the Swing Era (mid-1930's through early 1950's), is committed to keeping this important music alive by performing as often as possible for audiences of all ages. The band features two vocalists who bring to life the sounds of legendary singers and crooners such as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra.

Music Mountain visitors are welcome to attend a pre-concert themed dinner at The Falls Village Inn (5pm) prior to Saturday evenings concert. Reservations much be received by Friday, July 24. For information www.fallsvillageinn.com

Sunday afternoon welcomes Avalon String Quartet with guest artists Jan Opalach, bass-baritone and Jonathan Yates, piano for a program filled with Music Mountain debuts! The extended program will include *Fauré: Mandoline, Opus 58 #1; *Debussy: Mandoline, L. 29; *Debussy: Fêtes Galantes II, L. 104; Debussy: String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10; *Lili Boulanger: Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie; *Ravel: Don Quichotte à Dulcinée; and Ravel: String Quartet In F. * indicates Music Mountain premieres.

Avalon String Quartet has established itself as one of the country's leading chamber music ensembles. They have performed in many major venues including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall in New York; the Library of Congress in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London and Herculessaal in Munich. The Quartet's live performances and conversation are frequently featured on Chicago's WFMT-FM. They have also been heard on New York's WQXR-FM and WNYC-FM. The Avalon String Quartet is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music.

The American bass-baritone, Jan Opalach, is one of the most versatile vocalists on the operatic stage. He is highly regarded for his superb understanding of a broad range of musical styles and eras. Mr. Opalach had been a regular guest of the New York City Opera since 1980. Among the many roles he has performed during his long association there, are Papageno in Die Zauberflöte;;Figaro, the title role in Le nozze di Figaro,: Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia. As a featured soloist, Mr. Opalach has sung with the acclaimed orchestras of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles, among many others and has achieved international recognition with appearances in Mexico City, The Netherlands, and Sweden. Mr. Opalach is an Associate Professor of Voice of the prestigious Eastman School of Music.
Jonathan Yates, pianist, is the fourth Musical Director of Music Mountain in its eighty-six year history. He is also Music Director of both the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and the Norwalk Youth Symphony. He has collaborated with many of the country's most respected musicians, including Midori, Kim Kashkashian, David Finckel, Gilbert Kalish, Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Paul Neubauer, Joseph Lin, and Anthony McGill. Mr. Yates made his professional orchestral conducting debut at 23, leading the National Symphony Orchestra in a Millennium Stages Concert, and made his Carnegie Hall debut (Stern Auditorium) as a pianist in the following year. He has also served on the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College.

Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Pre-Concert Dinner + Concert: $65. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm on Sundays, unless otherwise noted. 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 area information www.litchfieldhills.com

FIND WALDO IN WASHINGTON DEPOT!

 Where's Waldo? In Washington Depot, of course.  The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting over twenty local businesses throughout the community this July. Those who spot him can win prizes, including buttons, book coupons and more. From The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 2 Green Hill Road to The Washington Pizza House at 13 River Road, from The Pantry and KMR Arts, Titus Road to The Washington Art Association at 4 Bryan Plaza, Waldo figures will be well hidden in local business establishments. Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity, and a wonderful way for residents to support local business and the Shop Local movement.

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Washington Depot!” passport with the names of all the participating sites, and get their passport stamped or signed for each Waldo they spot. Waldo seekers who get their passports stamped or signed at ten or more sites can bring their passports back to The Hickory Stick Bookshop to collect prizes. Collecting store stamps or signatures at all of the businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand prize drawing on July 31, with the top prize being a 6-volume deluxe set of Waldo books. 

Where’s Waldo is the creation of Martin Handford, whose entertaining drawings of crowd scenes swept the world in the late eighties. Since then, the Where’s Waldo books have held a cherished spot on bookstore shelves the world over. There are now over 63 million Waldo books in print worldwide and they’ve been translated into over 30 languages. An entire generation has grown up searching for Waldo and his cast of wandering companions.

In celebration of Waldo's longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is once again teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and 250 independent bookstores all across the country, including The Hickory Stick Bookshop here in Washington Depot for some hide and seek fun as well as to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses.  There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo and Woof in Washington Depot, call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525.

For more area event information www.litchfieldhills.com

Acting on Dreams at Franklin Street Works

Immigrants now comprise approximately 13 percent of the total U.S. population (41.3 million), of which over a fourth are undocumented (11.4 million) and close to a fifth live in poverty. Despite numerous roadblocks, many in the United States have called for an overhaul of the immigration system, seeing it as a necessary and crucial step in the development of a more humane and just American society. Yet many others still fail to acknowledge immigrant hardships or to empathize with their conditions, prompting individuals, such as community activists and artists like those in Acting on Dreams, to attempt to fill the enormous gaps in immigration services and knowledge.

With a recent surge in border crossings on the one hand, and stalled legislation in Congress and increased deportations on the other—the work of community and grassroots groups to raise awareness and ease immigrant living conditions has become more essential. The works included in this exhibition chronicle several efforts of immigrants and their advocates, while drawing connections between various communities and concerns within this highly complex issue. The artists apply their creative skills to further compassionate and respectful policies, and strive to communicate the immigrant experience in the United States—the frequent sense of isolation and uncertainty, but also courageousness, pride, and anticipation.

The projects presented in Acting On Dreams include installation, sculpture, and video. Together, these artists present informed perspectives on U.S. immigration today via strategies such as research, storytelling and activism. Acting on Dreams explores the work of artists who use creative, often process-oriented, strategies and community collaborations to advocate for authorized and undocumented immigrants and propose innovative alternatives to immigration reform. 

Exhibiting artists are: Andrea Bowers, CultureStrike & JustSeeds, Chitra Ganesh and Mariam Ghani, Ghana ThinkTank, Marisa Morán Jahn (Studio REV-) in collaboration with National Domestic Workers Alliance and Caring Across Generations, Jenny Polak, QUEEROCRACY in collaboration with Carlos Motta, and Favianna Rodriguez.

The gallery, located on 41 Franklin Street in Stamford is closed Monday and Tuesday and is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: noon – 5:00PM Thursdays: noon – 7:00PM.  For more information http://www.franklinstreetworks.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Bruce Museum: Bursting with Pride

The galleries of the Bruce Museum will be bursting with pride this summer, and into fall: The Museum opens The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride through October 18 part of a groundbreaking series of area exhibitions exploring the Seven Deadly Sins. Presented by seven members of the Fairfield/Westchester Museum Alliance (FWMA), the Seven Deadly Sins exhibitions represent the group’s first ever collaborative effort.

Gabriel Schachinger (1850-1912), Sweet Reflections, 1886
Oil on canvas, 51 x 31 in., Woodmere Art Museum: 
Bequest of Charles Knox Smith. Photograph by Rick Echelmeyer.

The Seven Deadly Sins have played a significant role in theology, literature and art since the Middle Ages. The exhibition’s curators point out that the show is intended not only to put the sin of pride within a historical context, but also to encourage discussion, raising questions about the history of morality and moralizing.

The Bruce Museum exhibition places the sin of Pride within a historical context, presenting nearly 50 works ranging from Dürer works on paper from as far back as 1498 to Fay Ku’s 2014 graphite and oil on mylar. Susan Ball and Co-Curator Amanda Skehan have selected paintings, engravings, etchings, lithographs, illustrated books, magazines, three-dimensional objects and more from private collections, galleries, and institutions that include Yale University Art Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art, National Gallery of Art, Princeton Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Clark Art Institute.

The Pride exhibition at the Bruce will be complemented by some unique programming, including the Superbia Soirée at the Museum on Friday, July 17, and a Puppet Show Family Day on Sunday, July 19.

The Superbia Soirée, a lively after-hours event open to the public, will take place on Friday, July 17 from 6 to 8 pm. The event will offer special evening access to the exhibition, as well as a variety of activities to celebrate the show including a grown-up scavenger hunt and a special curator’s tour that includes an opportunity to hear from some of the featured artists. Admission is $15 for Museum members and $20 for non-members. Reservations are recommended, visit https://brucemuseum.org.

On Sunday, July 19, the Museum presents a Puppet Show Family Day from 1 to 4 pm. At 2 pm, Magpie Puppets will entertain children and adults alike with the interactive puppet show The Emperor’s New Clothes. Craft activities will be available in the Museum’s Education Workshop. No reservations are necessary, and the event is free with Museum admission. 

For area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

Garden Party and Gallery Walks in Wilton

The Colonial Herb Garden and the current exhibitions at the Wilton Historical Society will be the setting for a garden gathering with a talk about herbs (co-sponsored by the Wilton Garden Club) and two gallery talks on Thursday, July 16 from 4:00 – 6:00.  Splashed with color and fragrant with lavender and thyme, the garden is now at its summer best, and will be a delightful place to enjoy herb-themed hors d’oeuvre and refreshments. At 4:30 in the garden there will be a talk by herb specialist Nancy Moore. Quilt artist Denyse Schmidt will talk about her work in the exhibition “Denyse Schmidt: In the Making Historic Inspirations/New Quilts” at 5:00 in the Burt Barn Gallery.  At 5:30 in the Sloane Gallery, June Myles will chat about the hooked rug art in her show “One Loop at a Time”.  Each talk will be about 20 minutes.

 The critically acclaimed quilt designer Denyse Schmidt will be discussing her exhibition “In the Making: Historic Inspirations/New Quilts” at 5:00.  Her creations are modern interpretations of classic quilt designs – contemporary, functional textile art with deep historic roots.  She was drawn to the simple charm of antique quilts, their unexpected color combinations, and the way a single block pattern can lead to an infinite number of variations.  Her quilts, with their quirky style and fearless use of color, are fresh and unexpected interpretations of traditional patterns like Wagon Wheel, Churn Dash and Ocean Waves. Denyse’s quilts have been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times; Martha Stewart Living Magazine; People; O, The Oprah Magazine; and Time, and shown at the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky.

 Hooked art seen in June Myles “One Loop at a Time” – rugs, wall hangings, and pillows – are alive with color, texture and movement.  The works show off her sophisticated use of color, her love of language, and her virtuoso needle skills. At 5:30 she will be talking about her work, which engages the viewer with humor and a style that finds its origins in folk art.  A veritable menagerie can be found, from anteaters to turtles, from frogs to goats which frolic and gambol across lively patterns and amidst words both whimsical and wise. Myles’ most interesting work can be found in a series of portraits of “men I’ve never met” as she calls them.  As varied as a sun-drenched “Mattiseman”, a fiddler, a cook, a banker, an exotic manservant, and a philosopher, they confidently inhabit their space.  The Redding resident has been hooking rugs since 198, and has exhibited widely in Connecticut, and in Maine and her native West Virginia.

 Nancy Moore is the owner of Moorefield Herb Farm of Trumbull, which specializes in herb plants, heirloom tomato plants and scented geraniums. She will be right at home in the Colonial Herb garden, which is divided into sections for dyeing, potpourri, culinary, and medicinal herbs with more than forty plants historically accurate to the year 1740. Some of the interesting plants that can be seen in the garden include Penny Royal (Mentha pulegium) a mint flavoring for soup; Rue (Ruta graveolens) for joint stiffness; Skirret (Sium sisarum)a flavoring for stews; and Wrinkled Rose (Rosa rugosa 'rubra') which provides Vitamin C to prevent scurvy. Her 4:30 talk about herbs is co-sponsored by the Wilton Garden Club. Nancy speaks about herbs to garden clubs, plant societies, and the advanced master program at the UConn extension centers. She's a former president of the Connecticut unit of the Herb Society of America, an organization that promotes herbs through educational and cultural events. She will have plants available for sale.

The event is free for members of the Wilton Historical Society, $10 for non-members. The Wilton Historical Society 224 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 www.wiltonhistorical.org

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Litchfield Jazz Festival Celebrates Twenty Years

This August from the 7th - the 9th marks the 20 year anniversary of the Litchfield Jazz Festival. The fest has something for everyone-great music, affordable prices, free parking, excellent food and drink, and free admission and entertainment for kids 12 and under. 

Fine arts and crafts shopping adds to the fun. Featured top-draw performers include Anat Cohen, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, Mike Stern, Sean Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli and many more.

Opening night begins with a Litchfield tradition, the Friends of the Festival Party to support Litchfield Jazz Camp scholarships. The Litchfield Fest is supported by the State of Connecticut DECD, National Endowment For The Arts the Les Paul Foundation, Crystal Rock, DownBeat, Telefunken Elektroakustik, and others.

 Tickets can be purchased on line at www.litchfieldjazzfest.com. Group rates available. For more information call (860) 361-6285.

MATH + NATURE = New NATURE’S NUMBERS Exhibition Opens June 20 at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Families can escape the heat this summer at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s new exhibition – Nature’s Numbers.  This cool, colorful, and interactive exhibition, developed and produced by the Franklin Institute, stimulates numerical thinking, builds math skills, and promotes a positive attitude towards math through play with math concepts in nature. Four themes: Repeating Patterns, Basic Shapes and Structures, Designs in Nature, and Nature’s Puzzles make it fun to learn about math in the natural world.

Concept-driven content is designed to introduce, explain, or reinforce concepts and skills for visitors from preschool through middle school. Games, puzzles, and live animals make it fun for everyone. Exhibits from the Natural History Collections of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center will reinforce math skills including counting, ordering, patterning, measurements, and classification. Insects, reptiles, birds, plants, shells, crystals, and fossils illustrate the amazing role math plays in nature.

The Stamford Museum Galleries are open, Monday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm; Sundays 11 am – 5 pm. Members: Free /Non-Members: Free with gate admission. For more information visit www. stamfordmuseum.org or call 203.977.6521. 

Related Programming:

NATURE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NUMBER…

Thursdays, June 25 – August 20, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Discover the wondrous ways that numbers play a role in nature. Each week we will focus on a different number and will include live animal visits, field experiences, or hikes to explore a natural numeral. Six will introduce us to the world of the insect and the bee’s honeycomb, eight to the world of spiders and arachnids, 21 to fabulous flowers and more. Meet at the Museum Building.

Members: FREE | Non-Members: FREE with gate admission

PATTERNS & FORMS: NUMBERS IN NATURE

Sunday, August 2, 11 am – 3 pm

Join us for a special celebration of the summer exhibition, Nature’s Numbers, with a look at the patterns and sequences of numbers in nature. Explore the spirals in seeds and shells, discover the family tree of our honeybees with an “open hive” (weather permitting), and take a closer look at our favorite fruits and veggies to see their patterns. Discover the Fibonacci sequence in nature and learn about the animals that he studied by meeting our rabbits and cows. Plant seeds to take home, create great Fibonacci-inspired art, and learn about this special numbers pattern through some Fibonacci hopscotch. A schedule of events will be posted at stamfordmuseum.org closer to the event.

Members: FREE | Non-Members: FREE with gate admission

Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Stamford Museum & Nature Center, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, the natural and agricultural sciences, and history. The Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the community, and a focal point for family activity and interaction, seeking to inspire creativity, foster self-discovery, promote environmental stewardship, and nurture an appreciation for lifelong learning through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that enhance the visitor’s experience of its unique site.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center is located at 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT (3/4 mile North of Merritt Parkway Exit 35.) For more information call 203.322.1646 or visit stamfordmuseum.org.  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Between Two Worlds the Photography of Nell Dorr in Washington

Between Two Worlds: The Photography of Nell Dorr is a  retrospective exhibit commemoratong the 50th anniversary of the Horace Mann School's John Dorr Nature Laboratory in Washington and the 75th anniversary of the Dorr Foundation. Nell Dorr's photographs and artifacts from the Massillon Museum in Ohio, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Texas, and area residents are featured in this show. New touch screen technology has been incorporated into the exhibit allowing visitors to watch friends and descendants share their stories about Nell Dorr and the lasting impact that she made on their lives and the town of Washington.

Nell Dorr, celebrated photographer and Washington resident from 1955 until her death in 1988, is best known for her soft-focus depictions of motherhood, family, and children. She first gained notice for her 1934 exhibition at Delphic Studios in New York City, Famous Men, which included images of Carl Sandburg and the man who would become her husband, inventor John Van Nostrand Dorr. Her lifelong dear friend, the actress Lillian Gish, provided entree into the world of well-known individuals.

The other side of Dorr's artwork features more imaginary settings, children as fairy-like creatures in beautiful natural settings—sometimes mangrove swamps in Florida, other times New England woodlands. Later she created abstract photograms in her darkroom, creating imaginary scenes often with just the light of a kitchen match to expose the images.

Carl Sandburg

Between Two Worlds: The Photography of Nell Dorr is a traveling exhibition organized by the Massillon Museum. The exhibit and program series has been made possible by a grant from the Dorr Foundation. The exhibit will be on display on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m, through Saturday, October 31, 2015. Admission is free. The Gunn Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Rt. 47 and Wykeham Road, on Washington Green. Call 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for more information.

For more area event information and things to do and see www.litchfieldhills.com

Harps, Hats and High Tea at the New England Carousel Museum

The Celtic Harp Circle will be playing a special performance at the New England Carousel Museum on July 12 at 2 p.m. The Circle plays a blend of Celtic, a little bit of Swedish, Jewish and Turkish music as well. The Harp Circle is a musical ensemble featuring a variety of Celtic or Folk Harps played by a diverse group of 9 Harpers.

This group is directed by Haley Hewitt, who in September was crowned USA National Scottish Harp Champion by the Scottish Harp Society of America! She is one of the most exciting, innovative, and gifted harp players of the up-and-coming generation. Playing original music, but also interested in traditional music from around the world, Haley has been breaking boundaries and pushing the limits of what is possible for the instrument.

Guests are sure to enjoy this concert in the unique environment of the Carousel Museum.  Refreshments and light fair compliments of Artist Tree Tea House will be served as a High Tea including cucumber sandwiches and Jasmine and Lavender Iced Tea Lemonade.

Cookies and snacks will also be compliments of the museum to ensure a lovely afternoon. Join in the mood and wear a special hat if you like! Reservations are strongly suggested as this has a limit of seating for this event. Museum admission is $6 per person for adults, $5.50 for Seniors, and $3.50 for children. The concert is free with admission.

For more information contact the New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Avenue, Bristol, CT at 860 585-5411 or email info@thecarouselmuseum.org or http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org.

Housatonic Museum of Art Reinvents the Past

The Housatonic Museum of Art presents Remythologies: New Inventions of Old Stories curated by Stephen Vincent Kobasa. This exhibit will be on view in the Burt Chernow Galleries, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT., runs through July 24, 2015. The Burt Chernow Galleries are free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Thursday evening until 7 p.m. The galleries are closed Saturday and Sunday in Summer.

How do we account for the survival of stories? Poets and cultures die, but their necessary and remarkable lies still continue to be accounted for. Although the forms these works are given also have a history, it is what they contain that is the most accurate measure of our defining memories.

There is no art-making that does not confront the past, but there is art which reinvents that past without abandoning it. A struggle against tradition still depends upon what it opposes. As the writer Berger Evans once noted, "We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us." This exhibition is meant as a study of what our past still demands that we must either embrace or defy.

Artists included in this exhibit: Jason Buening (New Haven), Susan Classen-Sullivan (Canterbury), Jaclyn Conley (Brooklyn), William DeLottie (Pomfret), Kevin Harty (West Haven), Will Holub (Mystic), Brian Huff (New Haven), Nathan Lewis (Seymour), Phil Lique (New Haven), Nomi Lubin (New Haven), Willard Lustenader (New Haven), Margaret Roleke (Redding), Joseph Saccio (New Haven), Kyle Staver (Brooklyn, NY) and Mark Williams (New Haven).

For more information http://www.hcc.commnet.edu/artmuseum/index.asp

For area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

3-D Fireworks will light up the sky at Quassy Amusement Park

'3-D' movies were a fad in the 1950s and have made a comeback in recent years. You could call it a "blast from the past."
But "3-D" fireworks? Seeing is believing when Independence Day fireworks light up the sky in "3-D" over Lake Quassapaug for the 13th consecutive year at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark here. Special "3-D" fireworks viewing glasses will be sold for $1 on July 4th at Quassy to benefit Healthy Eyes Alliance. The glasses will be on sale starting in the afternoon until they are sold out.

The park will again shoot its 10:15 p.m. fireworks display from barges anchored offshore so everyone attending the park that evening will be able to enjoy them. Sponsoring the event are: Pepsi-Cola of Bristol, Price Chopper, Premier Subaru/Volvo of Watertown, and Quassy. Media sponsors are Voices newspaper and WTNH Channel 8. Parking on July 4th is $8 at Quassy with the park opening at 11 a.m. Quassy Beach and Splash Away Bay waterpark will operate until 7 p.m. with the remainder of the park staying open until after the evening fireworks.

107th Year

Quassy Amusement Park is in its 107th year and features more than two-dozen rides and attractions including FRANTIC, a new spectacular thrill ride. The lakeside property is also home to Splash Away Bay waterpark. Quassy also features a new laser maze attraction in its huge arcade building. Rides include the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster, Music Fest, Yo-Yo super swings, Free Fall 'N' Drop Tower, Grand Carousel and more.

The park also has a restaurant, redemption arcade, games, live entertainment and special events. Season passes are on sale now at the park office and through the Quassy Web site at www.quassy.com. Company picnics, school fieldtrips and other catered events are also being scheduled through the park office at 203-758-2913. Quassy is located at 2132 Middlebury Road, Route 64, in Middlebury, Conn., on the shores of Lake Quassapaug. For more information visit www.quassy.com or call 1-800-FOR-PARK.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Litchfield's “Art Night Out” Returns Thursday, July 2nd

Litchfield's “Art Night Out” returns Thursday, July 2nd, on the Town Green in Litchfield, CT from 5:00 - 8:00pm. The stores on the Green will be transformed into “Art Spaces” featuring artist lectures, live painting, and art openings. Merchants will remain open until 8:00 pm, hosting receptions for all of the featured artists. Bring your family and friends for a stroll along West Street, viewing some of the best of our local talent, with live music and refreshments along the way. The summer series will continue with “Music Night Out” on July 30th and conclude with “Fashion Night Out” on August 27th

ART Andrea S. Keogh Art & Design will be hosting an exhibition entitled “Sea/Shore” featuring the works of James Butterworth, George Noyes & Fairfield Porter. Jeffrey Tillou Antiques will be featuring he works of Winfred Rembert. P.S. Gallery presents a preview show of “Water, Skies & Field” featuring new works from Anda Styler. Serendipity Gallery will be hosting a lecture from featured artist Anna Mastropolo. R. Derwin Clothiers Ladies and Men’s stores will be hosting artist receptions for Joan Morosani and Michael Quadland.

MUSIC The Collette Hurst Quartet will be performing Jazz standards from 5:30-7:30 pm outside the West St. Grill. Soliel will be performing Rock n’ Roll renditions in Cobble Court from 6:00-8:00. Barbed Wire will be performing Folk/Country covers inside @ the Corner’s bar from 8:00-11:00.

WINE TASTING Casa Bacchus will be hosting an organic wine tasting from select regions around the world. OPENINGS & ACTIVITIES Grand Opening celebration of R. Derwin Clothiers Men’s new store location at 33 West St., serving Litchfield County crafted cocktails prepared with Krofters Gin & Bourbon Whiskey. Kitchenworks will be hosting the “The Art of Entertaining”: creative ideas for outdoor tablescapes, featuring floral arrangements by Sara Worden Natural Design. The Litchfield Historical Society invites our youngest attendees to join them at 7 West St, to participate in creating a community mural.

For up to date information https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldsNightOut