Sherman Chamber Ensemble Summer Music Series Finale August 30 and 31

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble expanded its horizons this summer playing to audiences in Litchfield and Amenia in addition to multiple venues in Kent and Sherman. So it's entirely fitting that its final classical performance of the Summer Season is entitled Questions of Travel.

Performances on Labor Day weekend begin at 8 pm and take place on Friday, August 30 at St. Andrews Church in Kent and Saturday, August 31 at The Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse in Sherman.

The program includes Mendelssohn's Venetian Boat Song, female composer Edith Hemenway's Questions of Travel for flute, piano and cello, and English composer Sir Edward Elgar's Quintet for Piano and Strings, in A minor, Op. 84, written in the tradition of the great piano quintets of Brahms, Dvorak, Franck, Schubert and Schumann and a grand and magnificent ode to nature.

The program is a musical journey to Mexico, Venice, Scandinavia, America and England. Pianist Margaret Kampmeier joins Susan Rotholz (flute), Jill Levy (violin), Paul Woodiel (violin), Sarah Adams (viola), and Artistic Director Eliot Bailen (cello).

A “Meet and Greet the Artists” reception will follow the performances.

Also on Labor Day weekend the Ensemble presents its annual free Bluegrass Jamboree - Saturday, August 31 at 2 pm at the Lake Mauweehoo Club and Sunday, September 1 at the Kent Barns under the tree.

General Admission to the concerts is $30.  Senior and Student admission is $25.   Children 15 and under receive free admission when accompanied by an adult purchasing a regular admission ticket.  Tickets may be purchased at ShermanChamberEnsemble.org or by calling 860-355-5930.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door subject to availability.

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble was founded in 1982 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut and nearby New York State.  Its summer chamber music series has been described in The New York Times as "about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert." Additional events coming later this year include Labor Day weekend bluegrass jamborees; the annual "Live at the Lake" coffeehouse; and Thanksgiving weekend classical-jazz matinee performances.

Harvest Fun @ Country Fairs in Litchfield Hills

'Tis the season. In Connecticut's rural Litchfield Hills, harvest time means the region's favorite end-of-summer celebrations, old-fashioned country fairs. On weekends from late August to mid-October, these much-loved traditional events will feature farm shenanigans from racing pigs to tractor pull competitions, competition for blue ribbons for prize animals and crops, midway rides, non-stop entertainment and plenty of good food.

All the fairs include judging of prize sheep, cows, pigs and goats, a rare chance for city and suburban youngsters to see fine farm animals close-up. Many of these events have been attracting families for generations. The Goshen Fair has been a tradition for over 107 years, the Bethlehem Fair has been offering up family fun for 94 years the Riverton Fair dates back to 1909, and the granddaddy of them all, the Harwinton Fair, is past its 160th birthday.

Almost every fair offers tractor pulls and lumberjack contests that send chips flying, but each event also has its own unique attractions. Fair-goers in Bethlehem can see wood chopping contests, antique tractor pulls, horse shows and even a Hollerin Contest! 

Goshen’s antique barn is a perennial draw for its demonstrations of handcrafts such as quilting, weaving, and basketry. Special contests at the Goshen Fair include a frozen t-shirt contest, hay bale toss, pie-eating contest, and skillet throw contest! The last major fair of the season, the Harwinton Fair is known for its country store and working blacksmith shop. 

The Riverton Fair, now in its 109 -year has a pie-eating contest and women’s skillet throw, lumberjack competition, rides and several drawings that include a bicycle and a Hitchcock Chair.

Litchfield Hills Country Fair Schedule
Goshen Fair August 31 – Sept. 2, Bethlehem Fair September 6-8, the Harwinton Fair October 4-6, and the Riverton Fair, October 11-13.

LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM JOINS SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE’S 15TH ANNUAL MUSEUM DAY

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticket holders on Saturday, September 21, 2019, 12-4 p.m. as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 15^th annual Museum Day, a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington D.C.-based museums. Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity and inclusion. Over 450,000 tickets were downloaded for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2019 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.

This year, Museum Day will celebrate the Smithsonian Year of Music, an institution-wide initiative celebrating the Smithsonian’s vast musical collections and resources through 365 days of music-related programming. Music is not only a reflection of human creativity and innovation, but also a key method of communication and cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The Smithsonian Year of Music crosses disciplines, bringing together music-related resources in art, history, culture, science and education.

“The Board of Trustees and I are thrilled to join Smithsonian Magazine and offer universal access to all Museum Day participants. Visitors will have an opportunity to take a sneak-peek at the Museum’s music box collection and enjoy live music in this inspiring and illuminating National Historic Landmark” said LMMM Executive Director Susan Gilgore.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will display several 19^th and early 20^th century music boxes and phonographs in the Museum’s Music Room drawn from the Mansion’s permanent collection.  These musical machines, produced regionally as well as in several European countries, will include an Orchestral Cylinder Music Box with bells, miniature drum and wood block ca. 1880; a Graphone Type B ca. 1897; and a Victor Phonograph Type B, the first to use a 78 RPM record, ca. 1904; among others.  Choral music will be performed in the Mansion’s Rotunda by The Serendipity Chorale and The Suffragist Choir of the Unitarian Church of Westport. For a schedule of performances please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com

Visitors will learn that the simpler music boxes, which are precursors of the record player, were mass-produced and available to the general public for $10-$20. Museum Day ticket holders will also be able to view the Museum’s exhibition, From Corsets to Suffrage: Victorian Women Trailblazers sponsored in part by CT Humanities The Museum’s 2019 Season is made possible in part by generous funding from LMMM’s Founding Patrons: The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown and the Museum’s Distinguished Benefactors: City of Norwalk and The Maurice Goodman Foundation. 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. Museum Day tickets will be available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday beginning August 15. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 21, 2019. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums, which will be continually updated, can be found at Smithsonian.com/museumday/search. For more information, please visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.

New Saturday Night Sunset Cruises Offered by the Seaport Association

While many enjoy the summer and early autumn sunset from the shoreline, there is something very special about seeing the sunset on the water where the horizon seems endless. The Seaport Association has long offered Friday evening cruises, and, new this year, they are also offering sunset cruises on Saturday nights.

The Seaport Association's vessel is roomy and comfortable with plenty of space for passengers to unwind as they glide through the historic Norwalk Harbor and catch glimpses of sea life, birds, and the necklace of islands in Long Island Sound. Passengers are encouraged to BYOB and snacks, making this cruise the perfect way to end the workweek.

The sunset cruise is also ideal for a romantic night out. There is nothing more relaxing - and romantic than watching the sun dip beyond the horizon while gazing at the beautiful Connecticut coastline with a glass of wine or Champagne in hand and the sea breeze in your hair. This on the water excursion is the perfect way to step away from the hustle and bustle you find on land and enjoy a picture-perfect sunset…on the water.

Friday night cruise dates are Friday, August 23 and 30, and September 13 and 20. For Friday night cruise tickets click here.  The Saturday night cruises are offered on August 31, and September 14, 21, and 28.  For Saturday Night tickets click here. The boat departs Norwalk Harbor at 6:30 p.m. for a two-hour cruise. 

Live Birds of Prey @ Institute for American Indian Studies Aug. 24

On August 24 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Institute for American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is welcoming staff from the Sharon Audubon Center for a program featuring live birds of prey.

Native American people revere birds of prey for their majestic appearance as well as for their hunting prowess. Native people wear or carry bird of prey feathers to invoke the spirit of these powerful and magnificent predators. Of special interest is the beauty of black and white tail feathers of golden eagles and the wing feathers of hawks and falcons with their beautiful patterns that are reminiscent of arrowheads. Across the United States, Native American culture celebrates these predators in art, jewelry, crafts, beadwork, and basketry.

This joint program hosted by the Institute and the Sharon Audubon strives to increase public understanding of these North American birds of prey and their importance to Native American culture in the Eastern woodlands.  A highlight of this program is that visitors will be able to meet these fascinating creatures up close and watch them being handled by a Sharon Audubon educator.

This special event is included in the price of admission to the Institute of American Indian Studies. Adults are $10, Seniors are $8, and children are $6; members of the Institute are free. For more information visit the website or call 860-309-9215.

THE ANNUAL SALE OF RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANTS RETURNS TO WASHINGTON, CT SEPTEMBER 7-8th

Hollister House Garden invites garden enthusiasts for the annual ‘Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants’ Saturday, September 7^th and Sunday, September 8^th.  Attendees are invited to discover unique plants, tools and garden accessories from thirteen vendors from throughout New England exhibiting at the sale.  Interested plant sale attendees can choose from two options ‘Preview Buying’ on Saturday, September 7^th includes garden admission and cocktail party $65/pp 4-6:30 pm or enjoy the ‘All-Day Plant Sale’ only $10/pp (includes admission to the garden) on Sunday, September 8^th from 9am-3pm.   

The thirteen vendors that will be on premises for the ‘Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants’ include; Broken Arrow Nursery, Cricket Hill Garden, Falls Village Flower Farm, Garden Vision Epimediums, Green Spot, Issima, Meadowbrook Gardens, O’Brien Nurserymen, Oesco, Shakespeare’s Garden, Snug Harbor Farm, Toho Studio, and Young’s at Three Rivers.  New this year, a certified arborist from SavATree will be onsite to share his knowledge and expertise on topics related to keeping your trees, shrubs and lawn beautiful, healthy and safe.  Attendees are encouraged to bring along your landscape questions and concerns. 

The Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants ‘Early Buying and Cocktails in the Garden’ tickets for Saturday, September 7^th are $65 for non-members and $50 for HHG members, available through reservation at https://hollisterhousegarden.org/events/cocktails-and-preview-buying-at-the-sale-of-rare-and-unusual-plants/ /.  Tickets for the ‘All-Day Plant Sale and Garden Admission will be available for $10 purchase at the gate.   Please visit www.hollisterhousegarden.com for more information.  

Hollister House Garden is open to visitors through October 12th. Wednesday and Friday hours are 1-4PM and Saturdays 10-4PM. Private group visits are welcome weekdays by appointment only.  Directions to the garden’s 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are also available on the website.  Contact:  Pamela Moffett, 860-868-2200 office@hollisterhousegarden.org