Ten Hidden Gems by Motorcoach

America is a big county, and most small motorcoach group tours include a large city or two in their itineraries. While big cities are terrific to visit, at Tours of Distinction, we also like to get off the beaten track to experience real small-town America.  We have put together a list of some of our favorite hidden gems across America that we think you should consider exploring on your next small motorcoach group tour, the most economical and fun way to experience all America has to offer.

Solvang, California

Solvang, America's Danish Capitol

Founded in 1911, this community is located just two hours from L.A., in the heart of Santa Barabara's wine country, immerses visitors in Danish architecture, old-world traditions, folk dancing, and cuisine. Strolling the streets of downtown Solvang, you will see half-timbered houses with wooden shingled roofs, colorful shops selling Danish goods, and, of course, windmills. Don't miss popping into a Danish Bakery for Kringles filled with almond paste or cardamon bread. If you enjoy wine, be sure to check out one of the twenty-plus tasting rooms along Main Street. For museum-goers, be sure not to miss the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art which preserves the history and culture of Solvang, and the Hans Christian Anderson Museum, dedicated to one of Denmark's most famous authors known for publishing fairy tales in 1835. And, to satisfy your sweet tooth, head to the Swedish Candy Factory which is the only Polkagris bakery in the United States. Polkagris is a Swedish stick candy that was invented by Amalia Eriksson near the town of Granna, Sweden.

Oatman, Arizona

Fun and Quirky on Rte. 66 in Oatman

Located just two hours from Vegas, on historic Rte. 66, this dusty town located in the desert hills is home to meandering burros, interesting shops, abandoned mines, and a raucous history of shootouts and bootleggers. It is fun to stroll along the ramshackle Main Street and feed the burros that originally came to town with early gold prospectors. A visit to the Oatman Mine Museum gives visitors a look at the area's mines that are said to have produced 1.8 million ounces of gold. There are plenty of quirky stores to explore and the Oatman Hotel,.0 with its dollar bill-papered lobby where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard stopped on their honeymoon in 1939.

Silverton Colorado

No Horsing Around in Silverton!

This is one of Colorado's most interesting historic mountain towns. Once known for rowdy miners and dance hall girls, this town still retains a wild west ambiance. This rough-and-tumble atmosphere is what gives Silverton its charming and authentic character. One of the most exciting things to do here is to take a scenic ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad that was used to haul silver and gold in the 1880s. The ride takes you past spectacular scenery including the rugged Weminuche Wilderness and along the Animas River. Another sightseeing option is to take a tour of the Old Hundred Gold Mine, where passengers ride deep into Galena Mountain to watch mining equipment in action. Another highlight is visiting Animas Forks, one of the best Ghost Towns in the United States that has been abandoned for more than 100 years.

De Smet, South Dakota

Walk in the footsteps of Little House on the Prairie

If you are a fan of Little House in the Prairie and have always wanted to walk in the footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder, then head to De Smet, South Dakota a place that inspired this series. Visitors can take an in-depth tour of Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes including the Surveyor's House, the original Ingalls House, Pa Ingalls Homestead, Almanzo Wilder's Homestead, the First School of De Smet, and the exhibition room that displays the original Ingalls-Wilder artifacts. A walk along the charming main street with its vintage businesses is like walking into the pages of one of this author's books.

Greenwood, Mississippi

On the Blues Trail in Greenwood

Located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Greenwood is a charming town with a rich and sometimes painful history. Rural and majestic with endless cotton fields, pecan trees, shanty houses, and gracious mansions, this town embodies the South. A drive along the Grand Boulevard, developed in the 1890s, is one of the most beautiful in the state, offering excellent examples of Tudor, Prairie style, neo-classical, and colonial revival residences.  The majority of the movie, The Help was filmed here and today, you can do a self-guided tour of the movie locations. Greenwood is on the Mississippi Blues Trail and there are eight Blues Trail Markers throughout the town including one for blues singer, Robert Johnson and actor, Morgan Freeman.  One unexpected thing about Greenwood is that Viking Appliances are headquartered here. They offer cooking classes, a favorite is to learn how to make Minnie's pie from the movie, The Help. 

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Cruise the Cass River in this Bavarian Wonderland

Known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, visitors here often feel transported to a small German hamlet on the Rhine. A ride on the Bavarian Belle Riverboat to the Bavarian-styled Waterfall at River Place Shopping area is the ideal way to learn the history of this village. Afterward, a walk through the center of town is an immersive experience from the names of the streets to the German architecture including the magnificent Glockenspiel Tower that strikes on the hour and on each quarter hour. No visit to Frankenmuth is complete without stopping in at Bronner's, a Christmas wonderland of decorations, trims, trees, gifts, and goodies.

Assateague Island, Maryland/Virginia

Watch Wild Horses Graze and Run Free

This barrier island shared by Virginia and Maryland is a National Seashore, with 37 miles of pristine sandy beach, and is one of the few places in the United States where you can see wild horses roam free. While they are called "wild" the horses are actually animals that have reverted to a "wild state" according to the National Park Service. Visitors flock to see the horses running into the surf or grazing on hay or beach grass. There are many legends of how the wild horses of Assateague Island came to reside here, and, all of them are shadowed in the mists of the past. The legends range from dramatic shipwrecks to abandonment, glorious Spanish galleons, and farmers trying to avoid taxes. Regardless of what legend you believe - the chance to catch a glimpse of these wild horses frolicking in their natural environment is an unforgettable travel moment.

Ashville, North Carolina

Glorious and Moody the Great Smokey Mountains

This thriving mountain town is fun to explore. In addition to having a great art, food, and brew scene, it is where the largest house in America, the Biltmore is located. A walk through River Arts District is truly amazing. Here you can wander through more than 250 artist's studios located in dozens of huge historic buildings. A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway dubbed America's favorite drive, is unforgettable not only for its bio-diversity but also for its amazing mountain views. If you work up a thirst, you are in the right place because Ashville is noted as one of the best beer cities in the country. For bookworms, head to the house museum of Thomas Wolfe that immortalized this residence turned museum in his book, Look Homeward Angel.

Litchfield, Connecticut

Litchfield's Autumn Glow

Named as one of the top small towns in America by the Smithsonian Magazine, Litchfield has often been compared to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The difference here is that the town's historic district is not only well preserved but lived in. The first law school is located in the center of town whose graduates include two U.S. Vice-Presidents, scores of legislators, governors, and lawyers as well as several famous artists including George Catlin. White Memorial Foundation offers visitors interested in the area's natural history an excellent museum to tour as well as 35 miles of trails to explore. The Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy founded by the former Secretary of the Smithsonian is home to more than 80 species of waterfowl totaling more than 400 birds. A visit to this breeding facility gives visitors a glimpse of how genetic diversity is maintained in rare and endangered species. And, if you love flowers, don't miss the chance to stroll through the gardens at White Flower Farm and Topsmeade State Park.

Littleton, New Hampshire

Strike a pose with Pollyanna

Littleton is the charming gateway town to the northern White Mountains and Great North Woods of New Hampshire. Locals affectionately call it "the Glad Town," because this is where author Eleanor H. Porter wrote her classic series of books Pollyanna. In the center of town don't miss the photo op with the bronze statute depicting the iconic character from the 1913 children's novel, Pollyanna. The Main Street of downtown is lined with interesting shops in historic buildings and homes.  If you have a sweet tooth, head to Chutters, where you will find the world's longest candy counter, and, then pay a visit to Lahout's, America's oldest ski shop. To cap off this small-town New England experience, head to the Riverwalk Covered Bridge to watch the old-timey water wheels and the flow of the water tumbling over the rocky river.

America is full of small interesting towns off the beaten path... and these are just some of what this great country has to offer.

Celebrate Long Island Sound's Bounty @ Docktails and Oysters June 3, 2023

 Docktails and Oysters, a signature special fundraising event hosted by Norm Bloom and Sons, a fourth-generation oyster farm in Norwalk, on behalf of the Norwalk Seaport Association are back again this year, by popular demand on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event sells out every year, so it is important to get your tickets early as they are limited.

This island-inspired party will get you in an “aloha state of mind” as you see folks in brightly colored Hawaiian shirts, listening to live music, sipping cocktails, and slurping the freshest oysters you will ever taste! “It’s a chance for people to celebrate the Seaport Association’s mission of preserving the Sheffield Island Lighthouse for future generations and have a little fun at an authentic oyster farm,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association.

 

Oysters have a long history in Norwalk that started with the Native Americans. Today, the techniques and processes used to farm Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom and Sons have been used for centuries, making them an extra special treat. If you have never had oysters, literally fresh off the boat this is your chance to eat your fill of them - so make sure you come hungry! It's fun to watch the pros shuck the oysters right before your eyes (they make it look so easy) and set them on trays with lemons and an assortment of delicious sauces. The food and fun doesn't stop there, as guests can snack on passed and tabled appetizers such as citrus grilled shrimp, house-smoked pork sliders, and blackened swordfish tacos with pineapple salsa, vegetable spring rolls, and black bean and corn salad, in keeping with the island vibe.

A highlight of the event is its location itself - the dock at Norm Bloom & Sons Copps Island Oysters, one of the few remaining traditional oyster farms in the United States. An added bonus is to learn how oysters are grown and harvested here and then shipped all over the world. The oyster beds are actually incubated under the dock where this event takes place. Part of the charm is to see how small oysters actually are when they start out! As soon as they are big enough, the oysters are "planted" on the sandy bottom of the Sound that surrounds the docks. This time-honored system of growing oysters makes them some of the best that you will ever taste, making it no surprise that Copps Island oysters are prized the world over for their sweet briny flavor and plump meat. Best of all, this is your chance to eat your fill of them for a good cause!

 

Tickets to this event are limited to 200 people and are $80 online and $90 at the gate if tickets are available. It is highly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance because this popular event sells out every year and there may not be tickets available the day of the event. For tickets click here, if you have questions, please call 203-838-9444.

 

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

 

A Mindful Stay for Body and Soul @ Husky Meadows Farm

 Husky Meadows Farm located in the northwest Connecticut countryside is one of the best places in New England for a mindfulness farm stay. This five-day farm stay in Norfolk provides plenty of time to unwind along with interesting natural and farm-related activities focused on nourishing the body and mind.

Rejuvenate in the beauty of Husky Meadows

Husky Meadows Farm, located on 300 unspoiled acres, distinguishes the experience of wellness and nourishment. There are meadows punctuated with wildflowers, blossoming well-tended orchards, apiaries buzzing with activity, a vegetable garden as far as the eye can see, and a formal garden perfect for relaxing any time of day. Guests can embrace fresh clean air and verdant greens, which lend life-giving energy ideal for rejuvenation.

Your hosts, Sandrine and Tracy Hayhurst, Culinary Director 

The Nourishment for Body and Mind: A mindful farm stay at Husky Meadows from Thursday, May 18 through Monday, May 22, focuses on how the natural world inspires us to nourish ourselves, literally from the ground up. Throughout the stay guests will enjoy hands-on farm exploration with Farmer Brett Ellis and learn why soil health makes the farm’s vegetables taste like nature intended them to. Kitchen sessions, with Culinary Director, Tracy Hayhurst will show how to prepare fresh produce from the farm in simple, nutritious, and delicious ways. There will also be visits to the shitake mushroom yard with Rana Justice and, opportunities to learn how to forage responsibly.

 

Although there are plenty of hands-on activities, the highlights of the stay are the special sessions with Sandrine, a mindfulness facilitator, and somatic practitioner. Sandrine is known nationally and internationally for her ability to draw deep inspiration from the natural world we all belong to and share it in a magical and meaningful way. Sandrine will inspire us to delve deep into the natural world in order to understand the importance of inner nourishment by delighting in the present moment. She will guide walks in the gardens and forest bathing in the woodlands, so we can soak up the sights, sounds, and feel of our natural environment. These sessions are meant to encourage mindful practices to enrich our lives.

Wander the gardens

The Nourishment for Body and Mind: A mindful farm stay at Husky Meadows, from May 18-22, is inclusive of all lodging, meals, beverages, and programming throughout the stay. Rates for the five-day stay, for double occupancy are $3500 and  $2500 for single occupancy. Local day passes including all meals and activities without lodging are $525. For more information, event tickets, and farm stay bookings visit huskymeadowsfarm.com or email tracy@huskymeadowsfarm.com

 

About Husky Meadows Farm

Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May - October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics. 

Tea Party @ Hosted by the Derby Historical Society May 21

 

Tea parties aren't just for kids - they are a great theme for a party or fundraiser for adults to enjoy too! With this in mind, the Derby Historical Society is hosting Lady Humphrey’s Tea on Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m. The tea will be held at the Catholic War Veterans Hall in Derby located at 112 Derby Ave. and the tickets are $45 per person. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here 

One of the many fun parts about a tea party is sampling an assortment of goodies. The afternoon includes hot and iced tea, assorted tea sandwiches and appetizers, desserts, raffles, and a take-home gift. A highlight of the tea is a presentation by historical performer Sheryl Faye as Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

The Derby Historical Society was founded on April 18, 1946, to serve the Naugatuck Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton. The David Humphreys House Museum is the birthplace of the Revolutionary War officer and friend of George Washington who later became our nation's first ambassador. It serves as the Society's headquarters, as well as home of our unique Day in 1762 Program. More than just a wonderful interactive tool for educating our region's children, the Humphreys House is also a museum dedicated to its famous resident and the community he called home.

Gear - Up for 2023 Summer Camp @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 This summer the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut is offering six weeks of summer camp where Native American history will come alive through fun activities offered by the Educational Department of the Institute. Hiking in the woods, mock archaeological digs, educational games, listening to traditional Native American stories, learning new crafts, and working together to complete a group project are just some of the highlights. This year’s summer camp program encourages children to connect with nature, and appreciate a culture more than 10,000 years old, while enhancing their teambuilding skills and, making new friends. For more information https://www.iaismuseum.org/summer-camp/

 

Six weekly camps with different themes are offered from June 26 - August 11, for children six–twelve, Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is available online. For questions call 868-0518 ext. 453 or email gbenjamin@iaismuseum.org

 

Children that love archeology and wonder what tools archaeologists use to uncover clues will enjoy Puzzles of the Past: Putting it All Together, from June 26- June 30. Mock archaeological digs and learning how to use a variety of tools are part of the discovery in solving riddles from the past! If your child is curious about how to survive in the great outdoors, Take Shelter! One of Your Five Basic Needs runs from July 10 – July 14 and promises to be as fun as it is informative. This week’s programs show campers how important it is to understand the environment and how to construct shelters from it, just as Indigenous inhabitants of the Americas did centuries ago.

 

 For children that think technology is just a modern concept, the July 17-21 session, Learning the ABC’s of Traditional Tech, might change their minds! This week, campers will learn about ancient technologies that were critical to survival and had nothing to do with computers or cell phones. Perfect to encourage the budding ecologist and children that love the environment, Stories of Survival: Native Lifeway’s in the Eastern Woodlands, from July 24-28, shows children how Native cultures have used their understanding and knowledge of the natural world to thrive for thousands of years. 

Ideal for curious campers, Being Resourceful: Gifts of the Natural World, from July 31 – August 4, shares the ecological lessons from Native cultures that are inspiring and timely. This week's highlights include learning animal tracking skills, identifying plants, and much more. If your child is creative and inquisitive don’t miss the final camp, August 7 – August 11, Etuaptmumk: A Different Way of Thinking. Through traditional Native American stories, mock archeological digs, and group projects, campers will learn the benefits of looking at things from two different perspectives - traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western Scientific thought.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Welcomes Baby Golden Lion Tamarin

 onnecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is happy to announce that a baby golden lion tamarin was born to mother Cricket and father Leão earlier this month. Born fully furred with its eyes open, the baby will spend its first weeks clinging to its mother or father’s back. The adult male usually does the largest share of caretaking, with the mother taking the infant only for nursing. Guests in the Rainforest Building may see the baby clinging to its mother’s or father’s back, but the family has free access both to their main habitat in the Rainforest Building and to their inside habitat, so they may not be visible all the time. 

After about five weeks, infants begin to explore on their own but will nurse for 90 days. A small endangered species of monkey from the Brazilian rainforests, often referred to as “GLTs”, these tiny monkeys weigh about one to one and a half pounds and are roughly ten inches tall as adults. The Zoo last had golden lion tamarin babies born in 2006 and again in 2007.

 

Found only in southeast Brazil, the golden lion tamarin is threatened by collection for the pet trade,  habitat loss, and habitat fragmentation. While protection of the species has resulted in an increase in their numbers, they are still classified as endangered. Their forest habitat has been reduced to only two percent of its original area, with habitats fragmented into unconnected areas, each supporting only a small group of monkeys. Deforestation has been ongoing for centuries to make way for sugar cane and coffee production, cattle grazing, logging, charcoal, and urbanization.

 

“There are only about 2,500 golden lion tamarins remaining in the wild, and a third of those are descended from GLTs raised in human care,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho.  “We’re proud of our contribution to the restoration of this species, with babies born here released in Brazil to help stabilize the population.” To see the baby click here

“This new baby is an important part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)’s Species Survival Plan (SSP), helping to preserve golden lion tamarins for future generations,” he said. “All species raised in human care in accredited zoos are important ambassadors, raising awareness of habitat protection and contributing to the survival of their species.”

 

About Golden Lion Tamarins

 

Considered the most beautiful of the four tamarin species, the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is named for the thick mane of hair around their necks, reminiscent of the great cats of Africa. Golden lion tamarins live primarily in the trees. They sleep in hollows at night and forage by day while traveling from branch to branch. Once down to 200 individuals in the wild and on the brink of extinction, intensive conservation efforts helped the population recover. 

 

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tiger and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves.  Other highlights include our Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove.  As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. 

Mother’s Day is More Important than Ever @ Tina’s Baskets & Woven Art

 Celebrating Mother’s Day goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of mother goddesses. Like Mother’s Day, the art of basket weaving goes back to time immemorial. Tina Puckett, owner of Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art @ Whiting Mills in Winsted, believes that this year, celebrating Mother’s Day is more important than ever. “Today’s mothers are taking on multiple roles and responsibilities as caregivers, mentors, breadwinners, and volunteers in their community. For me, Mother’s Day is a way to honor your mom, or a mother figure in your life, like an aunt, grandmother, daughter or friend for the important work they do every day,” says Puckett.

Visit a working artist studio on Saturdays and Sundays

If you are looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift, head to the working art studio of Tina Puckett, a nationally and internationally award-winning artist, whose woven work is far from ordinary. Each piece is inspired by Tina's imagination and woven with hand-dyed reeds into beautiful dynamic shapes in delightful color combinations that won’t be found anywhere else. What enhances the character of each piece is the addition of the Bittersweet Vine foraged by Tina in the woods near her home in northwest Connecticut. The natural beauty of bittersweet inspires each custom piece and often dictates the form a basket or sculpture will take.

Puckett’s highly collectible baskets and woven art pieces are functional and unusual, with heirloom qualities making them an unforgettable gift for Mother’s Day that will be used and cherished for years to come. If you can’t make it to the working art studio, head to the website 

@ http://www.tinasbaskets.com.

If you are looking to take Mom or that special someone on a road trip, head to Tina’s working art studio in Winsted and make a day of it. Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art Studio is located in Room 305 @ Whiting Mills at 100 Whiting Street in Winsted. The Studio is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you need a special appointment or want to inquire about custom work, please text 860-309-6934 or email tina@tinasbaskets.com.

About Tina's Baskets

Tina Puckett is a nationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven art that is the owner of Tina's Baskets which is located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet, and a variety of objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at a variety of galleries across the United States as well as at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Custom orders are accepted and appointments can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

Cirque Alfonse – Animal: A Farm Story

On Sunday, April 23 @ 7 p.m. the Barnum Museum is partnering with its friends at the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts to bring you Cirque Alfonse: A Farm Story which is a dynamic and exciting show!  Best of all, the Museum has arranged a special discount code for tickets - ANIMAL20 that entitles those that use the code to tickets to this show for just $20. For the discount code, click here.

Animal: A Farm Story takes us on a journey of discovery through a series of slightly surreal farm fables served up with a touch of irreverence, impressive virtuosity, and the irreverent circus company’s familiar comic touch. In this re-invented “farm fantasy,” the farm is turned upside down and the barn is turned inside out. A production for young and old alike, Animal is the Farm gone haywire!

Cirque Alfonse’s founding members have all worked with some of the most renowned “nouveau cirque” companies around the world. The company favors a multidisciplinary approach where circus, song, dance, and theater come together, driven by original live music in an irresistible mix of trad and soul that the troupe calls “agricultural funk.”

ABOUT THE BARNUM MUSEUM: 

The historic Barnum Museum is undergoing a major restoration of the magnificent exterior of the landmark building. To ensure safety, the Museum is closed for general public visitation.  The staff continues to work and is available for questions and inquiries.  Contact us here.  We apologize for this inconvenience, but a new, immersive, 21st-century Barnum Museum is on the horizon!

Bridgeport's Barnum Museum is one of P. T. Barnum's many philanthropic gifts. Completed in 1893, the architecturally significant building boasts a unique combination of styles and terracotta ornamentation and is listed on the National Register. Today the museum proudly shares the history and legacy of the world-famous entrepreneur, showman, and museum proprietor, who was also a state legislator, mayor, real estate developer, and philanthropist. 

The museum is home to thousands of artifacts, many pertaining to Bridgeport native Tom Thumb and his wife, Lavinia Warren, as well as the acclaimed Swedish soprano Jenny Lind. 

Celebrate Earth Day @ Husky Meadows Farm in Norfolk CT from April 21 - 23

 

Husky Meadows Farm, located in Norfolk, Connecticut kicks off its 2023 season of events with a weekend-long Earth Day Celebration from Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23. While primarily an organic market garden, the entirety of Husky Meadows Farm includes 300 acres of mixed native meadows, woodlands, hay fields, and an orchard. Earth Day offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to explore the whole farm ecosystem. 

Guests can join for a full weekend farm stay that includes overnight lodging, meals, a farm tour with farmer Brett Ellis, a wild foods cooking class with Culinary Director Tracy Hayhurst, and a tour of the farm’s apiaries with Dan Watkins of Beeworks, LLC, as well as break-out sessions that are also open to the public. Husky Meadows is delighted to offer these sessions with acclaimed teachers from the community to help guests identify ways to create healthy ecosystems for flora and fauna in their own backyards. 

On Friday, April 21, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Husky Meadow Farms will host a screening of “What’s the Rush.” The film, presented by co-founder Michelle Alfandari features the work of Homegrown National Park®, a grassroots movement to increase biodiversity one person at a time. In the film co-founder renowned ecologist Doug Tallamy, a New York Times best-selling author and leading voice on solving the biodiversity crisis, showcases the importance of creating new ecological networks by replacing invasive plants with native plants, right in your own backyard. Alfandari will lead a Q&A after the film when light refreshments will be served. This event is open to the public at the Norfolk Hub @ 2 Station Place in the center of Norfolk. 

On Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mike Nadeau will present “Native Grasses and Wildflowers.” There is a limited number of individual tickets for the program, Mike is a leading authority in the field of sustainable and ethical land care strategies and the co-founder of NOFA’s Organic Land Care Program. Mike recently transformed one of the fallow pastures at Husky Meadows into a native grass and wildflower meadow while using only organic methods and materials. He’ll use this meadow as the backdrop for his discussion. 

On Sunday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the farm presents brunch with author and gardener, Page Dickey, well known for her books, "Uprooted" and “Embroidered Ground.” Page has rich experience with classical horticulture and a deep understanding of the interdependent nature of native plants and pollinators. Page will share how these elements can complement each other in one’s home landscape and gardens. For more information, event tickets, and farm stay bookings visit huskymeadowsfarm.com or email tracy@huskymeadowsfarm.com 

About Husky Meadows Farm 

 Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May - October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.

W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project Announces Finalist Sculptors

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, will hold a press conference and public reception on April 19, from 6-8:30 p.m. to introduce the three sculptors who have been selected as finalists for the creation of a monument to W.E.B. Du Bois that will be placed in front of the town’s Mason Public Library. The event will be held in the main reading room of the library, located on Main Street (Rt. 7) in Great Barrington.

Seventeen artists applied for this commission. The Sculpture Project’s search committee selected Vinnie Bagwell, Richard Blake, and Dana King as finalists. All three are nationally recognized artists experienced in creating public art.

“We were awed at the astounding talent of the applicants to our RFP (Request for Proposal),” said Lauren Clark, a Sculpture Project board member who headed the Search Committee. “Though all of our applicants knew of Du Bois, a few were surprised that he grew up and was nurtured by this small New England town in Western Massachusetts.”

The two other judges for the competition were artists Delano Burroughs and Reginald Madison, both with longstanding ties to the community. The three finalists will be commissioned to create a small model of their Du Bois vision, which will be delivered in June. Those models will be displayed this summer at the Mason Library and The Berkshire Athenaeum so the community can comment.

The finalists are:

VINNIE BAGWELL is a representational and figurative artist who uses traditional bas-relief techniques as visual narratives to expand her storytelling. Her statue of Ella Fitzgerald, “The First Lady of Jazz,” was commissioned by the city of Yonkers. She has also done sculptures for New York City’s Central Park and the city of Memphis, TN. https://www.vinniebagwell.com/

RICHARD BLAKE’S sculpture projects commemorate those who have fought for social justice. Texture, gesture, and composition all contribute to imbuing his works with a spiritual quality. Blake is the 2023 Recipient of The Medal of Honor presented by The National Sculpture Society. His statue of Rosa Parks sits in the U.S. Capitol. https://www.richardblakesculptor.com/

DANA KING is a classical figurative sculptor whose public monuments capture the resilience of famous and everyday Black Americans, ennobling their tenacity and courage. Her sculpture of the women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott is featured at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. https://danakingart.com/

Donations to the Du Bois sculpture can be made online at www.webduboissculpture.org or mailed to W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, P.O. Box 155, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

About the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project was launched in May 2022 by a volunteer group of local citizens with the goal of recognizing Du Bois’ scholarly achievements in the fight for racial equality. The Project celebrates Great Barrington, a town whose long abolitionist history and powerful commitment to public education helped shape the person Du Bois became. The Sculpture Project is endorsed and supported by the Great Barrington Library Trustees and W.E.B. Du Bois Town Legacy Committee, among many others.

About W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was born and educated in Great Barrington. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. A world-famous sociologist, historian, and founder of the NAACP, he wrote The Souls of Black Folk, a seminal work in African American literature. 

Gone Fishing – Traditional Native American Fishing Technologies & More @ Institute for American Indian Studies

The end of a long winter signals the first in a stream of returning opportunities. It is the time of year when rivers and streams come back to life with the opening of the fishing season. If you have ever wondered what resources Native peoples had access to local waterways, then join Institute for American Indian Studies Educator and Traditional Skills expert, Griffin Kalin, on April 30, at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., for a program along the Shepaug River, which boasts a 10,000 plus year history of Native American communities living along its banks. This event will begin at the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut.

The programs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. include an informative hike to the banks of the Shepaug River that borders the Institute’s grounds and runs through Steep Rock Reservation.  Through hands-on experiences and engaging demonstrations, participants will get their feet wet with traditional fishing methods including learning how to make and maintain a fish house, and how to make a fish trap from the surrounding environment. Participants will also learn about the production and function of fishing weirs, a technology used by Native American communities that is still widely used today.

Participants will also wade into discussions about the role that turtles, crayfish, freshwater mussels, and edible and useful aquatic plants played in Native American communities that lived along rivers and streams.

 

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Visit the website to register, call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. Tickets are $15 for non-members and $5 for IAIS Members.

 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Mercury Glass Votives Workshop @ Wilton Historical Society

 

Dating back to the mid-1800s, mercury glass was originally created as a replacement for sterling silver, yet actually contains neither silver nor mercury. As traditionally practiced, the process of blowing mercury glasses utilized a double-walled technique which involved pouring the silvering solution in between two glass layers. Mercury glass remains a popular material for Christmas ornaments and other decorative household goods. Today, this art form can be mimicked on glass objects using common household vinegar and a spray-can technique. 

On Saturday, April 22, from 11 am to 12 pm, the Wilton Historical Society located at 224 Danbury Road in Wilton is holding a mercury glass votive workshop with museum educator Catherine Lipper. Participants will create their own decorative votives complete with candles, and enjoy a snack of sugar cookies decorated with silver confectionery. Suggested for ages 6-10. Members: $10 per child; Non-members $15 per child. To register email info@wiltonhistorical.org 

 Did You Know? 

 Silvered “mercury” glass originated in Germany as an inexpensive alternative material for candlesticks, vases, goblets, and other objects. The name “mercury glass” may have originated from early attempts to create a silvery appearance using actual mercury, but the practice quickly disappeared due to the toxic nature of the element. 

W.E.B. DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT AWARDED $15,000 BY ADAMS COMMUNITY BANK

 The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, has received a donation of $15,000 from the Adams Community Bank of Adams, MA. The funds will be used to finance a monument to W.E.B. Du Bois, a native son of Great Barrington, and to renovate the plaza in front of Mason Public Library, where the statue will be sited.

 

“The Adams Community Bank will be opening a branch in Great Barrington this summer,” said bank president Charles O’Brien, “and we believe this is an excellent way to support our new friends.”

 

The Adams Community Bank donation joins a $10,000 grant from Berkshire Bank and a $10,000 donation from The Whitehead Foundation to bring our totals to $175,000,” said Julie Michaels, co-chair of The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project.

 

The group will introduce the three finalists for the sculpture commission on April 19, 2023, at an evening reception at the Mason Library.

 

Donations to the Du Bois Sculpture Project can be made online at www.webduboissculpture.org or mailed to W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, P.O. Box 155, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

 

About the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project was launched in May 2022 by a volunteer group of local citizens with the goal of recognizing Du Bois’ scholarly achievements in the fight for racial equality. The Project celebrates Great Barrington, a town whose long abolitionist history and powerful commitment to public education helped shape the person Du Bois became. The Sculpture Project is endorsed and supported by town officials including the Great Barrington Select Board, the Great Barrington Library Trustees, W.E.B. Du Bois Town Legacy Committee, among many others.

About W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was born and educated in Great Barrington. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard.  A world-famous sociologist, historian, and founder of the NAACP, he wrote The Souls of Black Folk, a seminal work in African American literature.

 

On the Hunt for Daffodils in Litchfield and Bridgeport

We are looking for the first signs of Spring in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County so we decided to watch for daffodils that herald spring with their bright yellow blooms.  We expect spring's blooming bonanza to erupt in color over the next three or four weeks.

In the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, thousands of daffodils will bloom in the next three to four weeks over ten acres of woodlands and fields at Laurel Ridge Foundation in Northfield and we will be there to check their progress.

A walk among the daffodils at Laurel Ridge Foundation is a rare early spring outing in an unspoiled oasis. The wild natural landscape of gently sloping woodland, fields, and aged stonewalls overlooks a small lake dotted with two tiny islands. The parkland and one of the islands are completely carpeted with gold and white blossoms, a glorious sight that is nirvana for photographers.

The Colorblends House & Spring Garden in Bridgeport will be open April 1- May 7, 2023. In spring, visitors to the Colorblends House & Spring Garden can  stroll through an evolving display of color as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs come into bloom. Design ideas and creative blends abound in this intimate garden, which is a collaboration between Bridgeport-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs and distinguished Dutch  garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet.

The garden and restored 1903 Colonial Revival  mansion  are at 893 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport’s  Stratfield Historic District. Access is easy from I-95, the Merritt Parkway, and US Route 1, and street parking is plentiful.