11th Annual Watertown House Tour September 24

Once again this fall Watertown is throwing open the doors of private homes at the 11th annual Watertown House Tour on September 24 that is held to benefit the Watertown Historical Society.  The tour will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., rain or shine.

This year, the tour features five architecturally unique homes including: The Lund House at 38 Academy Hill, The Rectory at 37 The Green, The Doster House at 151 Middlebury Road, The Long House at 241 Woodbury Road, and United Methodist Church and Asbury Cottage at 305 Main Street. The Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street will also be open for viewing.

Advance house tour tickets are $25 per person, and will be $30 the day of the tour. Tickets for this self-guided house tour and are non-refundable & can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to: Watertown House Tour, P.O. Box 853, Watertown, CT 06795. Checks should be made payable to the "Watertown Historical Society". Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card or Paypal at: www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org Requests for tickets after Friday, September 16 will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street.

On the day of the tour tickets will be available at all of the businesses, all of the houses, and at the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse, which will be tour headquarters. Call the Museum at 860-274-1050 or view www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

About 

The Watertown House Tour is a benefit for the Watertown Historical Society and Museum in Watertown, CT. The Watertown Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Watertown and Oakville's history through the Museum.

Ride the Rails - A Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour

On September 23 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.

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 http://www.rmne.org.

Woodbury's Colonial Fair & Muster Day in the Hollow

A great fall lineup of events begins on Sunday, September 18th with the 21st Annual Colonial Fair from 12-5PM at the Glebe House Museum & Hurd House Museum on Hollow Road in Woodbury.   

Enjoy a perfect autumn afternoon with a Revolutionary War Reenactment and camp, demonstrations by colonial craftsmen, with crafts and games for the kids to enjoy.  The Museum will be open for tours.  Hollow Road will be closed for the afternoon so visitors may stroll down Woodbury’s most historic street.  

The Colonial fair is free of charge and will be held rain or shine. Hollow Road will be closed during the Fair and parking will be available behind Woodbury Floral Designs and in Hollow Park.

About the Glebe House

Set in the picturesque Litchfield Hills in historic Woodbury's village center, the Glebe House is one of the earliest historic house museums in the nation.  Its architecture, outstanding regional furniture collection and Gertrude Jekyll Garden combine to create one of the most authentic house museums in the region.

Through tours, educational programs and special events, The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden continues to give visitors a sense of what life was like in the 18th century.

For more area information on what to see and do this fall in the Litchfield Hills visit the website.

“SENSORY-FRIENDLY MORNING” ON SEPT. 18 @ Maritime Acquarium Norwalk

For some, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is a place with too many stimuli. So on Sun., Sept. 18, the Aquarium is planning a special morning to give guests with sensory-processing differences a fun, comfortable and accepting environment.

On Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon, lights in the Aquarium will be lower, and music and other sounds will be turned down or off. The Aquarium also will show specially selected IMAX^® movies with lower volume and the theater lights less dim.

Tom Naiman, director of education, said the Aquarium created “Sensory-Friendly Mornings” to be supportive of the children and adults with special needs who often visit. “We recognize that some elements of our exhibits can present a challenge because the spaces may be seen as too bright or loud or crowded for some people,” Naiman said. “So we offer occasional ‘Sensory-Friendly Mornings’ to make the Aquarium more accessible and more enjoyable to them.”

Naiman noted that the first half of “Sensory-Friendly Morning” – between 8 and 10 a.m. – occurs prior to The Maritime Aquarium’s normal opening time. The advantages of that, he said, are twofold: Aquarium staff can focus on special-needs guests, and special-needs guests averse to crowds will be less likely to encounter them.

All Aquarium galleries and exhibits will be open. Plus, Aquarium educators will offer bonus activities and take-home crafts. In the Aquarium’s IMAX Theater, special film screenings will be presented with the volume lowered and the theater lights dimmed less than usual. 

The movies selected for their sensory-friendly content are: “Humpback Whales” at 9 a.m., “Born to Be Wild” at 10 a.m. and “Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean” at 11 a.m. (One IMAX movie is free with Aquarium admission.)

Also, a special low-volume seal feeding is planned for 9:30 a.m. Please note that the regular 11:45 a.m. seal feeding will be delayed until noon on Sept. 18.  A “quiet room” will be available for guests that need a space to calm. For families that need to leave within the first 30 minutes of arrival, passes will be available to come back and try again another day.

Normal admission prices apply on “Sensory-Friendly Mornings”: $22.95 for adults; $20.95 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+); and $15.95 for ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. Another “Sensory-Friendly Morning” is planned for Nov. 6.

Sept. 17-18 Book Drive Discount

Coincidental to “Sensory-Friendly Morning” on Sept. 18 is an admission discount for the Aquarium’s “Ocean Litera-Sea Weekend” book drive Sept. 17-18. Bring a new or gently used children’s book and receive $5 off a child’s admission. One discount per child. The book-drive discount is available to guests attending for “Sensory-Friendly Morning.”

For more details about the popular Connecticut family attractions exhibits, IMAX movies (203) 852-0700 or go to www.maritimeaquarium.org.  For more area information www.visitwesternct.com

Greater Danbury Irish Festival Sept. 18-20

Twenty Years ago, Gerry Curran, who was the President of the Danbury Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, had a dream. Gerry's dream was that there was a need for and that there should be an Irish Festival in the Danbury area to present and perpetuate Irish music and culture. Gerry convinced, the President of the Danbury Division of the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Sharon Higgins that this was worthwhile project. Together Gerry and Sharon convinced the men and women of the Danbury AOH to support and work to establish an Irish Festival and that any profits would be used to establish an Irish Center in Danbury. This second dream came about in 2009 when the Greater Danbury Irish Center opened on Lake Ave in Danbury

Gerry's dream to establish an Irish Festival became a reality in 1995 when the Greater Danbury Irish Festival made its debut in Rogers Park. The Festival subsequently relocated to the Ives Center.  This year, the Greater Danbury Irish Festival is taking place on the park like grounds of the Charles Ives Center for the Arts located on 43 Lake Ave. Ext. in Danbury on September 16, 17 and 18.  This festival marks twenty years  of entertainment, food  drink and  fun for the whole family.

Festivities begin on Friday night with the Traveling Danbury's from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is followed by the The Go Set (Australia) from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.  

Saturday, September 17 begins with a performance by the Steve O'Tree and Friends from 12 noon to 1 pm.  and is followed by the Dan Ringrose Band that perform from 1 pm to 2pm.  The Ashurst Irish Dance troupe takes the stage  from 2 pm to 2:40 pm and again from 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. and is followed by the popular Tipperary Knights – 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.  The Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums  perform from 4:00 – 4:40 p.m. and again from 6:00 – 6:40 p.m. The  Mighty Ploughboys perform from 6:45 – 8:00 p.m. and the evening ends with a performance by The Peelers (Canada) from 8:15 – 10:00 p.m.

Poor Richard is the first act to perform on Sunday, September 18 from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m.  Next to take the stage is the group known as the Petri School Of Dance  that will perform from 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. and again at 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. The Highland Rovers take the stage from  2:30 – 3:45 p.m.  The final act of this festival takes place from 4:45 to 6 pm and features the Cunningham Brothers. 

There will be many other activities in the cultural tent such as: Women of the Easter Rising, Book of Kells, Irish Crochet, Irish Language and Classes, Irish Family Histories, Genealogy, Irish Blessings, Irish Dance, Irish Literature, Potato Famine, Irish Traditional Music History and Classes, and many more. There is also a youth area where kids will enjoy face painting, Crafts
Geneology Coloring Page, Colored Sand Crafts, Coloring, Jewelry Making and Story Telling.

A highlight of this event is the Halloween Parade that is scheduled for 3:45 on Saturday, kids are encouraged to bring their own costume or wear one of of the costumes offered at this event.   There will be prizes for most creative costumes

For a complete up to date listing https://danburyirishfestival.org

Hit the Trail with Housatonic Heritage Walks Sept. 17 - Oct. 2

 Labor Day weekend has passed marking the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of what is known as Indian summer.  Although daytime temperatures in September have been warmer than usual, the evenings have been cool and crisp heralding the beginning of the fall foliage season.

 Hiking is an ideal way to explore the unspoiled landscape of the Litchfield Hills; and one way to do this is by participating in one of 60 plus guided hikes organized by the Upper Housatonic Valley National HeritageArea.   The Housatonic Heritage Walks will take you through some of the region’s most scenic, historic, and cultural sites, many are not well known and are the best kept secrets in the state. Best of all participation in these guided walks are free of charge.

The annual Housatonic Heritage Walks kicks off on September 17 & 18, 24 and 25 and finishes up on October 1 and 2.  The hikes range from easy to challenging.  The tenderfoot and the seasoned outdoors person can both feel their spirits lift as they roam the hills and valleys of the unspoiled Litchfield Hills.

 On Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. families will enjoy a hike past Bulls Bridge, a historic covered bridge in South Kent and along the Appalachian Trail overlooking the Ten Mile River.  Along the way participants will learn about the history of the bridge and the Appalachian Trail as they keep their eyes peeled for birds and other wildlife -- so don’t forget your binoculars. This hike is 2.5 hours long trail. To register call 413-528-8002.

 The early history of the Litchfield Hills shows that it played an important role in the Revolutionary War as well as in our nations industrial development because of the production of iron ore.  If Connecticut’s industrial history is of interest to you don’t miss the hike, Cannons at 20 Paces on September 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.  Take a short walk along the Housatonic River in Falls Village on a sun-dappled trail that was once the site of an industrial complex. As you walk along this ¼ mile trail look for 19^th century foundations that stand as a testament to the iron industry that once thrived in this bucolic village more than 150 years ago.  Participants will learn about how this factory produced the most powerful cannon of the Civil War.  This hike is also scheduled for September. 24 and October 1 at 11 a.m.

On Sunday, September 18 from 1:30 to 2:30 hikers will enjoy a leisurely ¼ mile stroll through an orchard of 300 chestnut trees at Green Mountain Forest in Falls Village.  At one time the American chestnut was the most predominant tree in eastern forests.  Hikers will learn about the devastating blight imported on Asian chestnuts that forced the American chestnut into extinction and the efforts of the Great Mountain Forest to revive them.

Hikers are invited to explore Coords Preserve with town historian and Warren’s land trust officer on Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hikers will have the opportunity to walk through a variety of habitats including a wetland area, and hardwood forest.  A highlight of this walk is the exploration of an old cellar hole and a stroll around a beaver pond.  Make sure to wear sturdy footwear on this three mile hike that will take about two hours.  To register call 860-868-6724.

If you are intrigued by caves, and want to scramble over rocks and squeeze through a tunnel don’t miss one of the three one- hour guided tours of Torys Cave in New Milford on Saturday, September 24 at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.  This small cave whose tunnel descends more than 50 feet into the earth and opens up into a small room is one of the very few that are open to the public in Connecticut. Participants will learn about caving, bat biology and how this cave is managed.  Make sure to wear long pants and shirts, sturdy boots and don’t forget gloves.  Pre-registration is necessary; to register call 860-927-1927 or email info@weantinoge.org.

Visit three forest preserves located in Cornwall on October 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 pm to learn about the natural history of white pine trees. The hike begins at the historic Cathedral Pines that was nearly destroyed in a 1989 tornado that devastated the area.  Hikers will see first hand how regrowth is re-establishing this forest. The next preserve is Ballyhack that is well known for its beautiful old growth pines and the final destination is Gold’s, an old growth pine forest that has been thinned many times to promote regeneration. There is about 2 miles of easy walking trails and a 4-mile drive between each of the preserves. To register 860-672-2325.

If you are interested in geology, don’t miss the tour of the new wing of the CT Antique Machinery Association’s CT Museum of Mining and Mineral Science on October 2 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Kent. This evocative museum traces the story of Connecticut’s geological history and explains how the landscape was formed.   This gem of a museum houses one of the most extensive and varied collections of Connecticut minerals on display in the state.

For detailed information on additional hikes being offered by the Housatonic Heritage Area and for other dates these hikes are being offered, visit http://housatonicheritage.org/events/heritage-walks 

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Flea Market @ Lockwood Mathews Mansion Sept. 18

For anyone who loves to hunt for treasures, repurposed furniture, decorative accessories, and curiosities of all kinds, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum's Old Fashioned Flea Market is the place to be. The event, will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2016, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, CT, in Mathews Park.

Whether you enjoy bargains, face-painting, or a stroll down memory lane, this is such an enjoyable event as it offers something to everyone. The highlight of this event is than 80 vendors that will offer a variety of items from new, and used, to vintage. Treasures for sale include an interesting assortment of antiques, furniture, collectibles, jewelry, household items, clothing, and toys. The adventure of this event is that you never know what you will find!

Another highlight of this event is the classic and antique car show that is sure to delight the car buffs in the group. Shop while listening to swing and jazz music  from 12p.m. -1 p.m. A flea market favorite is the all-American BBQ. A highlight of this event is the classic and antique car display from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

The Museum will also be open for mini-tours from 12 noon to 4 p.m.. Visitors will be invited to walk throughout the Museum's period rooms on the first floor and view an iconic Victorian era mansion for only $5.

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

About the Flea Market

Proceeds will benefit the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. The Museum has donated several booths to area nonprofits who will share their message and mission with attendees.

A Trio of Fall Exhibitions at the Mattatuck Museum

The Mattatuck Museum located on 144 West Main Street is hosting three different exhibitions highlighting a variety of sculptures from dry wall reliefs and Arabic abstractions to a series of paintings.

The first exhibit that runs from September 9 through October 23 and is called The Geometry of Passio. It is the work of Arthur Carter. Carter's abstract sculptures allude to human gestures and interactions and often reflect his interest in mathematics, graphic design and minimalism. Newspaper work instigated the shift to art-making. For Carter, the process of laying-out and designing newspaper pages generated an interest in graphics. He moved from the two-dimensional printed page to three-dimensions using stainless steel, a material that had been familiar to him since his days at Officer Candidate School where he learned welding. This exhibition will feature Carter's sculptures, paintings, and works on paper. There is a reception with the artist on Friday, September 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A second show, also on display from September 9 - October 23 is called A State of Strain and is the work of Ryan Roa. This exhibition features sculptural installations in multiple locations throughout the museum. In addition to his Space Drawings (created by stretching industrial bungee cords to capacity), the exhibit includes Roa's steel mesh floor sculptures, dry-wall relief sculptures, charcoal drawings and a light show in the storefront located across the Green from the Museum. There is a reception with the artist on Friday, September 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rigorous and Surprising, the Art of Steven Naifeh begins on September 15 and runs through November 6 with a reception on September 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In painting and sculpture, Steven Naifeh explores the affinity between the geometric abstraction of Western art and the millennium-old tradition of Arab and Islamic abstraction. The 15 large-scale works in this exhibition reflect the many shared influences between them. Naifeh typically works in series, several of which are represented here. In some, the geometric form remains constant while scale and color change. Colors run a beautiful rainbow of jewel tones – gemstones and precious metals. Sometimes Naifeh translates his paintings into limestone sculptures. All offer rich ideas for exploration: formal beauty, the nature of abstraction and the intersection of mathematics and art.

For more information on the Mattatuck Museum and for a list of programs and events visit the website at http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org.  For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com