New England Carousel hosts trio of March events

The New England Carousel Museum located on 95 Riverside Ave. in Bristol has organized three fun events in March that are sure to chase away the winter doldrums!

The Chaparrals will perform live at the museum on March 18 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the cover cost to hear this indie rock quintet band that is based out of Boston. Their music is best described as being strongly melodic with an emphasis on reflective lyricism and instrumental thematic parallelism, Chaparrals weave organic and synthetic sounds alike in and out of a lush sonic backdrop of ethereal and haunting beauty. This is the perfect time of year to get out with friends and enjoy a night of music and dancing on the museum's large wooden dance floor. Call 860-585-5411 to reserve a table or pay in advance.

To usher in spring, the New England Carousel Museum is hosting a spring ball with Al Fenton's Big Band on March 25. Tickets are $15 and pre-paid tables of 8 or more may be reserved ahead of time.

This is a BYOB event and snacks and set-ups will be available for purchase. Dress to impress and get out on the museum's large wooden dance floor in their ballroom as you swing, dip and jive to the live music. The Al Fenton Big Band performs a variety of music including blues, jazz and swing. This music lends itself to many styles of dancing, either alone or with a partner. This will be a night to remember, as you swing and jitterbug the night away. The museum will be filled with lights, music and, as always, their beautiful carousel animals. There will be many opportunities for fun festive photos and memories to cherish for years to come!

The month of March concludes with children in mind. On Sunday, March 26 the Princess Tea will take place at the Museum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a tea perfect for a princess!  There will be face painting, dancing, story tellers and rides on the carousel and delicious snacks. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite princess dress and tiara...they will be treated like royalty!

Impressionist Master @ The Bruce Museum Greenwich

The Bruce Museum on One Museum Dr.in Greenwich and the Hôtel de Caumont Centre d’Art in Aix-en-Provence, France, are mounting a major monographic exhibition of the art of the French Impressionist Alfred Sisley (1839 – 1899). The first retrospective in the United States in over twenty years of this purest of all the major Impressionists, the show is comprised of about 50 of Sisley’s paintings from private collections and major museums in Europe and North America. The Bruce Museum will premiere the exhibition and be the only venue in the United States. This show will run through May 21, 2017.

A friend of Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Sisley initially worked in the naturalistic landscape tradition of the Barbizon School but increasingly adopted a proto-Impressionistic style, creating a body of work that has an impressive internal consistency and cumulative authority. 

Throughout his career, Sisley adhered to the style of divided light and color, momentary effects of illumination, and an acute responsiveness to atmosphere that are the signature attributes of Impressionism. He dutifully painted en plein air in all manner of weather, recording his favorite sites in the environs of Paris – Bougival, Louveciennes, Marly-le-Roi, Saint-Mammès – in exhaustive detail, in all seasons, and under ever-changing skies. Born in Paris to British parents, Sisley studied the landscape paintings of Constable and Turner before enrolling in Charles Gleyre’s studio where he met Monet and Renoir. 

Little biographical information about his life has survived so his art must speak for itself, and does so with haunting beauty. The magic with which he was able to capture light sparkling on water, winter sun on snow, and trees rustled by a breeze create some of the most memorable Impressionist images.

Events Connected to this event:

Monday, February 27, 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Monday Morning Lecture Series. Laura Dickey Corey, PhD candidate at the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, will speak about Mary Cassatt's continuing ties to the US, in her art, life, and art advising, even while taking up permanent residence in France. Free and open to the public.

Monday, March 6, 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Monday Morning Lecture Series. Heidi Hirschl, Curatorial Assistant, MoMA, will speak about Degas: Impressions, which will consider Degas’s engagement in printmaking through the creation of Impressionist landscape monotypes. Free and open to the public.. Free and open to the public.

Graduate Student Symposium and Young Scholar Day

March 5, 1:00 - 4:00 PM. “Framing Nature” Graduate Student Symposium. MA/PhD students will present interdisciplinary papers that engage the multifaceted ways that artists and architects frame nature in their work. Advance registration through Eventbrite suggested: Free for Bruce members, and students and educators with ID, $10 for non-members. At the door: $10 Bruce members, and students and educators with ID, $20 non-members.

Film Series. The Great Artists: Their Lives, Times and Works – The Impressionists

Wednesdays from 10:30-11:45 AM. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. This film series chronicles the life, times and works of each featured artist and explores their stylistic trademarks. The programs also place each artist in historical context, highlighting the events that inspired his work and providing a clearer understanding of the creative process. The five programs in this collection provide an in-depth look into the fascinating world of the Impressionists and their art.
April 5: Manet
April 12: Pissarro
April 19: Monet
April 26: Degas
May 3: Renoir

Gunn Historical Museum Reopens with Reception

What better than an invitation to a historic open house of a Connecticut gem in late February.  The public is invited to an open house at the Gunn Historical Museum on Saturday, February 25, 2017 from 2-4pm, to view and participate in a new community-sourcing display in the Georgianna Middlebrook Room. They will even be serving George Washington’s famous “I Cannot Tell a Lie” Cherry Pie!

After having been closed to the public for over a year, the Gunn Historical Museum will now be open three days each week: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am-2pm. Museum volunteers have been busy working behind the scenes inventorying the collection and conducting research in preparation for the upcoming permanent Washington history exhibit, and some of their discoveries will be on display. The open house is also an opportunity to meet and welcome Lisa Breese, the Museum’s new Operations Manager.

In the new one room display, created by the Gunn Museum’s Exhibition Committee, the community is invited to participate in the planning process of the upcoming permanent Washington history exhibit, while enjoying a retrospective display of past exhibits. We would like to collect your stories, objects, and photographs of the people, places, and events that gave rise to the unique town we know today. We’d like you to share the history of your family in Washington and your favorite Washington memories, and let us know what topics you think should be included in a permanent exhibit about the history of Washington, Connecticut.

The snow date for the open house is Sunday, February 26. The display in the Georgianna Middlebrook Room will be open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am to 2pm. Additionally, research can be conducted in the Museum by appointment. The Gunn Historical Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, the intersection of Wykeham Road and Route 47, in Washington, CT. For additional information view www.gunnmuseum.orgor call 860-868-7756.

Floral Design and Horticulture @ Garden Education Center Greenwich

The Garden Education Center of Greenwich located on 130 Bible St. in Cos Cob is hosting a series of horticultural and floral design programs in March. The floral design classes are taught by Trish O'Sullivan, and director of Trish O'Sullivan Floral Design LLC, located in NYC for 25 years, and Director of the prestigious New York Botanical Garden Floral Design program. The classes that Trish teaches will inspire floral designers and flower enthusiasts in creating beautiful floral designs that are uniquely their own. There are two ways to take the classes, by direct participation or by gallery observation. Gallery participants will have the opportunity to observe and take notes only for the entire class at a reduced rate which is specified under each program description!

On March 7 the theme is blue roses in leaf lined vessels. The stunning blue-purple, lavender and grey toned moody blues rose, along with its large blooming head and delicate fragrance makes the moody blues rose a treasure found for floral designers. The color palette will be complemented with purple blossoms, eucalyptus berries and a variety of textural floral material. Students will learn the technique for creating a "New York-Dome Style" arrangement. ​Details and reservations online.

On March 11,18 and 25, Trish is conducting a wedding day workshop. The first session will include:Bridal Bouquet and Tussie-Mussy hand held Mother-of-the-Bride bouquet. The second session will include: Bridesmaid Bouquet and Boutonnieres and the final session will include: Flower Crown & Flower Girl Baskets. The cost for all three sessions is $325 in addition to a material and class fee. For details and to sign up visit the website.

If you enjoy working with tropical flowers, don't miss the workshop on them that takes place on March 22. Orchids, Ginger, Mini-Pineapples and Parakeet Heliconia are among the exotic tropical flowers and leaves that will make a dazzling modern floral centerpiece for you to enjoy year round. Participants will learn how to select and care for tropical flowers along with all the design techniques for creating amazing floral displays with these stunning flowers of the jungle.

For garden lovers, the Garden Education Center has planned a Garden Tag Sale on March 1 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is something here for every gardener including new and old informational and coffee table books, cache pots, baskets, vases, hand tools, and much more.​

On March 23, David Culp will discuss trends in horticulture including the best trends of yesterday, today and tomorrow. David Culp has his finger on the pulse of the nursery and horticulture industry, particularly perennial plants. Hear what he has to say about trends in planting styles, container gardening, green and other trending garden colors, native plants, naturalistic plantings and more. The cost to attend this event is $35 for members of the GEC/$45 for non-members of the GEC For more information regarding David Culp, please click on the following link: www.davidlculp.com/bio.htm

Princess Parties and Date night promotions @ Palace Theater

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King & I and The Sound of Music, will play the Palace Theater in Waterbury February 24 – 26 for four performances, including two matinees. Tickets for CINDERELLA can be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St.

Adding to the fun for families attending one of the matinee performances either on Saturday February 25 at 2:00pm or Sunday, February 26 at 1:00pm, the Palace is hosting Princess Parties beforehand to enhance the magical experience. The Palace Princess will be on hand to greet young audience members dressed for the ball and pose with them for selfies. A complimentary treat and beverage is also part of this pre-show activity which begins one hour before each matinee's curtain time.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. Originally directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the tour is directed by Gina Rattan and choreographed by Lee Wilkins. Music adaptation and arrangements are by David Chase and music supervision is by Greg Anthony Rassen. Orchestrations are by Bill Elliott and are adapted from the original Broadway orchestrations by Danny Troob.

Another fun promotion leading up to the show's engagement entitled" If the Shoe Fits" allows all ticket buyers a chance to enter a drawing to win a Date Night gift package filled with some fabulous treats including:

Drive a BMW for the weekend Courtesy of Hoffman BMW of Watertown
Dine in Style with an Entrees & Encores restaurant Gift Card –$75 value compliments of one of the theater's Entrees & Encores partner restaurants Floral Bouquet – Compliments of Graham's Florist Sweets for Your Sweetie – compliments of Hardcore Sweet Cupcake.

All ticket buyers (regardless of when or how you purchased your tickets) are eligible to be entered into a random drawing for the Cinderella Date Night Package.

To enter, participants with a valid ticket must come to the Palace Box Office to try on the "Glass Slipper" courtesy of Kathy Faber Designs, have picture taken trying on the shoe, post the photo on either Facebook or Instagram, and tag the Palace Theater. A random drawing will take place the week of February 20 and the winner of the Date Night gift package notified.