Bethlehem’s Christmas Town Festival Marks 30th Anniversary in the Litchfield Hills

They call this little town of Bethlehem “Christmas Town”, and with good reason. The annual Christmas Town Festival, scheduled for December 3 and 4, celebrates its 30^th birthday this year as one of New England’s favorite celebrations.  Thousands travel to this small village in the Litchfield Hills every year to mail holiday cards with a special Bethlehem greeting.  The town’s historic Bellamy-Ferriday House opens to visitors for the occasion, and Bethlehem boasts a rare Christmas jewel, a museum-quality 18^th century crèche on view in a vintage barn at the Abbey of Regina Laudis

30^th Anniversary Celebration

This year’s special birthday celebration starts on Friday night at 6 p.m. when Santa turns on the lights on the towering 75-foot tree on the village green, with festive background music by the Region 14 choirs and bands, talented local groups. On Saturday, the gaily- decorated quaint buildings around the green will brim with over 70 art and craft exhibitors and there will be good food galore.  Strolling carolers and musicians from the First Church Bell Choir will keep things lively, hayrides will be offered in front of First Church and Santa will be waiting at the firehouse to pose for pictures with young friends.  Collectors can garner this year’s unique annual Christmas Town pewter ornament, sold only during the Festival.

           

            The Bethlehem post office will open for special hours during the festival, Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The idea of mailing cards from Bethlehem dates to 1938, when a local Postmaster, the late Earl Johnson, realized that people were coming to town just to mail their cards.  He designed a “cachet,” a special rubber stamp featuring a tree and lettering that said “From the Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmas greetings.”  New cachets have been added each year since.  More than 60 are now available and over 200,000 cards are now mailed each year from this small town post office.

Historic Home Tours

Bethlehem’s beautiful eighteenth century Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden also will open on Saturday, lavishly decorated for the holidays.  Guides will be on hand to give tours and the family-friendly program will include games, prizes and surprises for children.  Special entertainment is planned by The Sweetest Key, an all-female a cappella group, with a concert at noon and caroling from 1 to 2 pm.  Refreshments and hot cider will be offered in the Visitor's Center.

Magnificent Crèche

Another eighteenth century treasure is the crèche housed in a barn on the 400-acre property of the Abbey of Regina Laudis.  The recently restored Neapolitan crèche is similar to the famous crèche in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and came from the same donor, Loretta Hines Howard.  It is a remarkable creation containing 68 figures 14 to 16 inches high dressed in their original elaborate costumes.  Along with the Holy Family, the figures vividly portray children, women bearing gifts, merchants, peddlers, angels, the Three Kings, and peasants with their farm animals.  The Crèche is thought to have belonged to Victor Amadeus the Second, King of Sardinia, and is believed to have been presented to him on the occasion of his coronation in 1720.  It is open free to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Christmas Town Festival will be held at the junction of Rte. 61 and Rte. 132 in Bethlehem on Friday, December 3rd from 5 to10 p.m., and Saturday. Dec. 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free parking is available at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds on Route 61, where free shuttle buses will take visitors to and from the Festival.  For additional information, see www.christmastownfestival.com or phone (203) 266-5557.

For more information about holiday events in the region and a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to lodging, dining and all the attractions in the Litchfield Hills, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759,  (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

PT Barnum Celebrates the Holidays Mark Twain Style

The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport CT is celebrating the 200th birthday of Phineas Taylor Barnum, born July 5, 1810 in Bethel CT by chronicling the life and times of this extraordinary showman who once served as the Mayor of Bridgeport.

For a complete listing of anniversary year events celebrating this amazing – and sometimes outrageous – showman, civic leader and politician, visit http://www.barnum-museum.org. The original museum building, owned by the City of Bridgeport is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Barnum Museum has planned a special holiday presentation, Christmas with the Clemens Family that will take place at The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport CT on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.

Patti Philippon, Chief Curator at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford will regale guests with tales about the Samuel Langhorne Clemens family, better known as the family of hailed American novelist Mark Twain. This special program will describe the friendship between Clemens and P.T. Barnum and then take a look at the intricate details of the way the Clemens family celebrated Christmas at Nook Farm in Hartford.

Philippon will enlighten the audience with Mark Twain’s tales of holiday celebrations that took place in the Clemens family home and show images of the glorious Victorian era holiday decorations at the museum in Hartford. Hear some engaging quotes from Twain and the wonderful tales which he told his children while they gathered around the fireplace. Tea, hot chocolate and cookies will be served to warm your holiday spirit!

Holiday visitors to the museum will also be able to view the David Millen “Celebrating the Spirit of P.T. Barnum! Energy, Balance, Vitality” sculpture exhibition and a display of the original artwork created by the winners of the annual Kennedy Center “Unique Perspective 2011 Calendar.” The Kennedy Center publishes a full color calendar featuring artwork created by artists with disabilities. The calendars, along with other unique and memorable holiday gifts, are for sale in the Barnum Museum store.

Admission for these programs: Adults, Seniors and College Students: $5, $2, Children 4 – 17: $5, Under 4: Free. Events take place Dec. 4-16. please visit the website for exact times.

Mark Twains Birthday Bash in Redding Connecticut

The Parks and Recreation Dept of Redding Connecticut has arranged an exciting 175th Birthday Bash for Mark Twain, who died in Redding. With his passing, Redding, Connecticut acquired a unique distinction: Mark Twain’s final home. And while that distinction is of trivial interest, it is what transpired after his death that has kept Twain’s life and legacy alive and well in Redding.

Almost immediately after his arrival, Twain took interest in founding a public library for the residents of Redding. Why was this of interest to him? Perhaps it was in his genes…John Marshall Clemens, Twain’s father, is said to have been instrumental in founding the first Hannibal, Missouri Library.

To create Redding’s first public library, Twain donated books from his own collection. Next Twain went into fundraising mode, a role he greatly enjoyed. Male visitors to Stormfield were “taxed” $1 dollar, concerts were held, and his friends and associates were urged to contribute to the cause. He was very successful. Large contributions of books were sent to Redding by Collier’s Weekly, Harper & Brothers, and by Page & Company.

From 1908 to 1910, the library was a focal point for Twain. In fact one of his final acts was approving a check for the library building fund. Since that time, the Mark Twain Library has grown and it has evolved but what it has remained is a tribute to Mark Twain’s legacy. Visitors of the Mark Twain Library are surrounded by photos, paintings, quotations, artwork and sculptures… there is little doubt that you have entered the “Mark Twain” library. But, more importantly, the Mark Twain Library keeps Mark Twain alive.

On Tuesday November 30th, Twain’s 175th Birthday, the town of Redding is planning an exciting day that includes a Mark Twain impersonator who will visit points of interest throughout the town. The impersonator will give two performances at the Redding Community Center.

There will also be a showing of the 1939 Huck Finn movie starring Mickey Rooney, at 4 pm. at the Redding Community Center because it is the 125th anniversary of the first publication of this book. Nationally recognized Mark Twain impersonator, Alan Kitty, will be on hand before the film’s 4:30 showing to discuss one of his favorite characters. The film will be viewed in honor of the 125th Anniversary of the book’s first printing.

At 7:00 pm at the Redding Community Center there will be a world first preview of “Dangerous Intimacy” an exciting documentary produced by History Film Inc, a non-profit organization. The documentary, based on the book by Karen Lystra, tells the untold story of Mark Twain’s final years. Many of the scenes were filmed in Redding using local actors and locations. The director and producer of the film, Richard Altomonte, will give a brief talk about it’s creation and a question answer period after the film. Tickets are $5.00 each & can be purchased at the Redding Park & Recreation, call: 203-938-2551.

A display of The Mark Twain Centennial Collection” of limited edition prints, by Portrait Artist Susan B. Durkee, will be on sale, and a Mark Twain and Redding Historical Display will be on view at the Redding Community Center.
The proceeds of the event are to benefit www.historyofredding.com. historyofredding.com created by historian, Brent Colley.

SANTA’S ON BOARD FOR FUN IN LITCHIFELD HILLS CT

If you want to find Santa in Northwest Connecticut, catch a train.  On weekends, you can join Mr. and Mrs. Claus taking a break for a fun ride aboard the Santa Express, a restored 1920s train from the New England Railroad Museum in Thomaston.  To see Santa at work, ride a train to visit the great man and his busy elves in the weekend Toyland he sets up in a vintage train car at the Danbury Railroad Museum.  Santa works late this time of year, and the special Northern Lights tours from Thomaston let you make a stop to see him at Santa's Train Workshop.  Wherever you find him, you can be sure that Santa has gifts ready for all young children.

Fans of miniature trains also will find irresistible holiday exhibits of whizzing, whirring miniature trains at many spots in this scenic part of the state.

                                    Riding the Rails

The Santa Express leaves the 1881 station in Thomaston on Saturdays and Sundays for an hour and a quarter round-trip scenic ride beside the Naugatuck River in 1920s-vintage coaches.  Mr. and Mrs. Claus make sure to visit with each child on board and often they bring elves along. Evening light displays inside and outside the train greet passengers after dark on the very special Northern Express journey to Santa's Train Workshop.  

 The gift shop inside the gaily decorated historic station has a host of ideas for train fans young and old, including railroad books, children’s books, Thomas the Tank Engine™ merchandise and lots of train memorabilia.  And there is an operating miniature Christmas train layout.

Santa Express trains, $14 adults, $12 children, leave at 2 p.m., Northern Express trains, $22 depart at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 12/4-5, 12/11-12 and 18/19. Additional Northern Express trains are scheduled for 11/27-28 and 12/3.

Santa’s Rail Yard

At the Danbury Railway Museum, which includes a classic 1903 station and a railroad yard with vintage train cars, visitors can ride a working vintage train through the yard to Santa’s own train.  They will find him in his workshop supervising his elves, who are busy making toys.  Santa rides begin at noon and run every half hour until 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, December 11 and 18, and Sundays December 5, 12 and 19 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.  The $8 admission includes the ride, a gift from Santa, and exhibits and displays in the yard and indoors. A miniature layout is in action in the station, along with a coloring station.

Once again, there is a tempting Gift Shop, with over 600 different items, including Thomas the Tank™ and Little Engine That Could™ merchandise, books, clothing, puzzles, and other railroad items.  The station is at 120 White Street in Danbury. Reserve tickets in advance at www.danbury.org/DRM or phone (203) 778-8337.

Mini Magic

Miniature train displays are a traditional holiday favorite for many families. The Wilton Historical Society’s annual Great Trains exhibit features a range of makes, models and gauges of model trains rolling around curves, passing scenic local landscapes and rushing through mountain passes.  Each model landscape is intricately designed by the Society’s “Trainmen” and the holiday exhibit includes a vast collection of toys, dolls and miniatures.  Dates are December 4 through January 17. Admission is $5; Hours are Tuesdays - Fridays, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sundays 1 – 4 p.m.  The Society is located at 224 Danbury Road. Check online or phone for holiday closings:  www.wiltonhistorical.org or 203-762-7257.

The 23rd Annual Hands On Train Display at New Milford’s restored vintage train station December 18^th through 31^st offers four big operating train layouts.  Each year the waiting room of the station is transformed into a Lilliputian landscape of hills, valleys and villages.  The towns, populated by tiny figures dressed in winter finery, are crisscrossed by whizzing layouts of scale model Lionel trains.  The setup includes almost 100 feet of track.  Visitors can do more than admire the trains.  They are invited to take the controls, starting and stopping the action and operating signals and lights.  The trains operate daily from noon to 4 p.m.  This yearly free event is sponsored by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about trains, directions to events and listings of all the holiday doings in the region, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com. They offer a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to the Litchfield Hills and a free Fairfield County Getaway Guide.

Travel in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County: December Events at the Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm

Travel in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County: December Events at the Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm

December Events at the Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm

The Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm invites you to take part in their December Holiday Happenings to help make your season bright!

A Holiday Knitting Workshop takes place on December 4th with Bruce Weinstein, the author of Knits Men Want: The Ten Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting For A Man from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants will learn to make reversible cables for a scarf either for a man or a woman. The cost is $75 per student (materials not included) and it includes a copy of Weinstein’s book and a light lunch from the Silo Cooking School prepared by Silo Cooking School Director, Chef Mary Kravec. Participants will receive a materials list with their registration receipt.

On December 8th from 10 a.m. to Noon Loretta Stagen is teaching a Fresh Holiday Wreath Decorating Workshop that uses a 28-inch double-sided balsam wreath at Hunt Hilll Farm. Students will learn to decorate the wreath with pomegranates, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, acorns and ribbons. In her Fresh Boxwood Topiary Workshop, students will create an 8-inch ball on top of a 24-inch stem and braid it festively with ribbons. The fresh topiary that you create will last two months. Class sizes are limited to 12 and last one hour. The cost for each workshop is $55 and materials are included.

On Dec. 11 in The Skitch Henderson Museum at 6 p.m., there will be a “Christmas Concert in the Country” with Alecia Evans, lyric coloratura soprano. Alecia Adams Evans has performed regionally and nationally throughout the United States. Her second performance at the farm will be a rich presentation of joyful holiday music from a repertoire of traditional Christmas standards and carols. Adding a spark to some of these holiday tunes will be an “Andrew Sisters” style sound, featuring the musical trio, Nobody’s Business which includes Evans, along with Cadden Jones and Linda Sue Moshier. Joining her on the museum’s famous Steinway piano once housed at NBC’s Tonight Show and signed by all four Steinway brothers, will be legendary Broadway Conductor Phil Hall. A reception will immediately follow the concert. Reservations Required. Ticket prices are $25 for members, $35 for non-members and $5 for students/children.

While you are at the farm this holiday season, visit The Silo Gallery to see the 38th Annual Christmas Tree and Holiday Exhibition on display through January 2nd, 2011 and don’t forget to browse The Silo Store, overflowing with special gifts and culinary items.

Visit for more information or to make reservations at www.hunthillfarmtrust.org or call (860) 355-0300. Hunt Hill Farm hours are Wed. through Sat., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday’s noon to 5 p.m.

STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN PULLS BACK THE CURTAIN TO REVEAL THE NEW 22,000 SQUARE FOOT/ $17 MILLION FACILITY

After more than two years of planning and construction, and three and half months of closure for final renovations, Stepping Stones Museum for Children will re-open its doors on Saturday November 20, 2010 and embark on its future.

The build and renovation, which more than doubles the space of the original museum, is one of the largest development projects in the city of Norwalk. The new structure features solar panels, a “green” roof, a wind turbine and the use of recycled materials throughout the construction, all of which has qualified for LEED Gold Certification. The focus on conservation, reusable materials and energy-themed education and learning extends throughout the museum’s new exhibits, galleries and programming.

Among the most amazing attractions is the technologically unique Multimedia Gallery designed to help prepare children for a changing and diverse world. Simultaneously a theater, technology lab and broadcast-ready environment, the Multimedia Gallery includes a 43 x 11 foot immersive high-definition screen, interactive floor projection, video-conferencing technology and a state-of-the-art camera, lighting and sound system. Programs will include distance learning, live performances, interactive games, short films, youth-hosted forums and opportunities to create meaningful and relevant connections with children, communities and cultures around the world.

Joining exhibit favorites Build It!, Healthyville and Rainforest Adventure is the exciting new exhibit Energy Lab,  a futuristic, wet and windy environment that will inspire children to explore and invent while learning about the science of energy and energy sources.

Also new is Tot Town, inspired by the latest research in early childhood development and play and designed to promote literacy for little learners. Nursery rhymes play a large role in Tot Town as they are placed throughout the exhibit. Tot Town will encourage infants and toddlers to investigate the real world in ways that stretch all of their abilities just as nursery rhyme characters use all their skills and senses to investigate and explore their imaginary world.

Rounding out the expansion is a larger and more robust parent and teach resource center, an all new art studio, a science lab, an expanded Café and the Age of Reason museum store.

Stepping Stones will open its doors to the public Saturday, November 20 at 10 am. With the newly renovated museum comes new opening days as Stepping Stones will be open 7 days a week from 10 am-5 pm. 

Annual Christmas Luncheons & Holiday Boutique at Ridgefield’s Keeler Tavern

On of the most popular holiday traditions in Connecticut is the Annual Christmas Luncheons and Holiday Boutique at the historic Keeler Tavern Museum located on Main Street in the heart of Ridgefield Connecticut. This year’s luncheon and boutique are scheduled for Tuesday, December 7th through Saturday, December 11th.

The highlight of this event is the lavish lunch that will be served in the festively decorated Garden House that overlooks the sunken garden. There will be two seatings each day the first at 11:30 AM and the second at 1:00 PM. To make your reservation please call the Museum Office at 203-438-5485 from Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or download a reservation form by going to the events page on the museum web site http://www. keelertavernmuseum.org.

Prepaid reservations are $23 per person. This event is a major fund raiser that helps support the Keeler Tavern Museum and has become a seasonal pleasure for many.

The Holiday Boutique will be open each day from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Sunday, December 12 from 1:00-4:00 PM. A wide variety of seasonal ornaments, gift items and crafts will be on display in the Cass Gilbert Dining Room in the Museum building. Gifts for family, friends and some especially to please you are there to purchase.

WATERBURY'S PALACE THEATER DREAMS OF THE “HOLIDAZE

Whimsical dreams become a magical reality when the Webster Broadway Series presentation of Cirque Dreams Holidaze transforms the Waterbury Palace Theater’s stage into a holiday wonderland of fantasy and imagination for three performances, December 7 - 9 at 7:30pm.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze is an original musical extravaganza where ornaments that come to life as costumed characters perform astonishing feats that celebrate the holiday season with spectacle and imagination.  An international cast of artists transform into gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, and reindeer soaring high above a landscape of holiday wonderment.  With an original musical score featuring holiday favorites, Cirque Dreams Hoildaze will have audiences of all ages mesmerized with its memorable tribute to the holiday season.

 

In conjunction with The Broadway League’s annual “Kid’s Night on Broadway” promotion, the Palace Theater is offering a special “Buy One Ticket, Get One Half Price” promotion for children, ages 6 – 18, to attend the 7:30pm evening performance on Wednesday, December 8. The special offer is valid on all remaining seats and is only available by phone or in person at the Box Office. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and the offer is not valid on previous purchases.

 

In the spirit of holiday giving, the Palace Theater is donating a portion of ticket sales from the Cirque Dreams Holidaze performance on December 7, to the WATR Sunshine Fund to help those in need during the holiday season. In addition,  the Republican-American’s Campership Fund will have their “Celebrity Beggars” out in force before the December 9 performance to collect donations to help defray the cost of sending deserving children and youth  to summer camp.

Tickets for Cirque Dreams Holidaze, sponsored in part by WTNH/MyTV9, WATR Radio, Republican-American, Brass Mill Center, Powerstation Events and Crystal Rock, can be purchased by phone at 203-346-2000, online at www.palacetheaterct.org, or in person at the Palace Theater Box Office, 100 East Main St. in Waterbury.  Groups of 20 or more qualify for discounted rates and should call the Group Sales hotline at 203-346-2002.

 

 

 

 

Bethlehem’s Christmas Town Festival Marks 30th Anniversary in the Litchfield Hills

They call this little town of Bethlehem “Christmas Town”, and with good reason. The annual Christmas Town Festival, scheduled for December 3 and 4, celebrates its 30^th birthday this year as one of New England’s favorite celebrations.  Thousands travel to this small village in the Litchfield Hills every year to mail holiday cards with a special Bethlehem greeting.  The town’s historic Bellamy-Ferriday House opens to visitors for the occasion, and Bethlehem boasts a rare Christmas jewel, a museum-quality 18^th century crèche on view in a vintage barn at the Abbey of Regina Laudis

30^th Anniversary Celebration

 This year’s special birthday celebration starts on Friday night at 6 p.m. when Santa turns on the lights on the towering 75-foot tree on the village green, with festive background music by the Region 14 choirs and bands, talented local groups. On Saturday, the gaily- decorated quaint buildings around the green will brim with over 70 art and craft exhibitors and there will be good food galore.  Strolling carolers and musicians from the First Church Bell Choir will keep things lively, hayrides will be offered in front of First Church and Santa will be waiting at the firehouse to pose for pictures with young friends.  Collectors can garner this year’s unique annual Christmas Town pewter ornament, sold only during the Festival.

           

            The Bethlehem post office will open for special hours during the festival, Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The idea of mailing cards from Bethlehem dates to 1938, when a local Postmaster, the late Earl Johnson, realized that people were coming to town just to mail their cards.  He designed a “cachet,” a special rubber stamp featuring a tree and lettering that said “From the Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmas greetings.”  New cachets have been added each year since.  More than 60 are now available and over 200,000 cards are now mailed each year from this small town post office.

                                Historic Home Tours

Bethlehem’s beautiful eighteenth century Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden also will open on Saturday, lavishly decorated for the holidays.  Guides will be on hand to give tours and the family-friendly program will include games, prizes and surprises for children.  Special entertainment is planned by The Sweetest Key, an all-female a cappella group, with a concert at noon and caroling from 1 to 2 pm.  Refreshments and hot cider will be offered in the Visitor's Center.

Magnificent Crèche

Another eighteenth century treasure is the crèche housed in a barn on the 400-acre property of the Abbey of Regina Laudis.  The recently restored Neapolitan crèche is similar to the famous crèche in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and came from the same donor, Loretta Hines Howard.  It is a remarkable creation containing 68 figures 14 to 16 inches high dressed in their original elaborate costumes.  Along with the Holy Family, the figures vividly portray children, women bearing gifts, merchants, peddlers, angels, the Three Kings, and peasants with their farm animals.  The Crèche is thought to have belonged to Victor Amadeus the Second, King of Sardinia, and is believed to have been presented to him on the occasion of his coronation in 1720.  It is open free to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Christmas Town Festival will be held at the junction of Rte. 61 and Rte. 132 in Bethlehem on Friday, December 3rd from 5 to10 p.m., and Saturday. Dec. 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free parking is available at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds on Route 61, where free shuttle buses will take visitors to and from the Festival.  For additional information, see www.christmastownfestival.com or phone (203) 266-5557.

For more information about holiday events in the region and a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to lodging, dining and all the attractions in the Litchfield Hills, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759,  (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

Belgique Opens Second Store in New Canaan, CT

Belgique Patisserie & Chocolatier, best known for its delicious handmade Belgian chocolates, has opened a second location and is changing its name to Belgique Chocolatier to reflect a new primary focus on chocolate.

The new store opened on September 16 and is located at 88 Elm Street in the middle of downtown New Canaan.  It is open Wednesdays through Sundays.  The Gilissens have taken great pains to make the façade look as much like the Kent store as possible, with the familiar yellow clapboards, rounded red awning, and Belgian cobblestone front.  

Connecticut Magazine has named Belgique chocolates as the best in the state 3 years in a row (2008, 2009, 2010).   Belgique also had the prestige of providing its chocolates to royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II at a state dinner in Washington, DC in 2007, and over the years Belgique has been featured in such notable publications as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Chocolatier Magazine, and Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.  Its authentic Belgian hot chocolate was named as “one of the best 7 hot chocolates in the world” by Vivre Catalog in 2004.

Before opening Belgique in the year 2000, Chef Gilissen served as Executive Chef & Manager at The Residence of The Netherlands Ambassador to the U.S. in Washington, D.C.  Prior to that, he worked in Washington as Sous Chef for the British Ambassador to the U.S.  Gilissen’s job was to prepare all meals, receptions, teas, etc. for these Ambassadors, their families and up to 1,000 guests.  Working for embassies gave him the opportunity to cook for such notables as Queen Elizabeth II, President George H.W. Bush, Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Hussein of Jordan, and violinist Isaac Stern.  His particular passion for chocolates began during his time in Washington, D.C.  He received his culinary education at Belgium’s École Hôtelière de Libramont after four years of study emphasizing gourmet cooking, restaurant/hotel management, pastries and wine.  While in Belgium, Gilissen worked at Michelin 2-star hotel/restaurant Le Moulin Hideux in Noirefontaine, Belgium and Auberge de Lavacherie in Lavacherie, Belgium.

Belgique Chocolatier is located at 1 Bridge Street in Kent (860) 927-3681.  The phone number for the New Canaan store is (203) 801-0538.

FEARSOME OR FRIENDLY, FUN FILLS THE LITCHFIELD HILLS FOR HALLOWEEN

Dracula, Frankenstein and other heroes of the horrors will be on hand, while spooks and spiders, ghouls and goblins will abound in haunted graveyards. The Litchfield Hills of Northwestern Connecticut will be filled with unique ways to celebrate Halloween throughout the month of October.  Families can choose from fearsome to friendly, with many chances for younger children to don their costumes and parade in happy small town celebrations,

 

Scary Scenarios

For chills, make haste to the Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in Bristol, which has been called "The granddaddy of the horrifically good time."  An unholy order of monks keep watch over the graves in the dark caverns of the Catacombs here and a dark and misty fog envelops the graveyard where zombies and night stalkers have wakened from the dead.  Some are real, others are amazing animatronic creations made by The Haunted Graveyard's crazed staff.  Recommended for adults, teens and very brave children, the park opens at dusk weekends from October 1 to 31, and runs to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, to 10 p.m. on Sundays.  Lake Compounce will also be operating 17 thrill rides including Boulder Dash, Downtime, and Thunder and Lightning.  Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Associations. http://www.lakecompounce.com

This will be the 44th year for the annual Witches Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum in Bristol.  The Graveyard Of Classic Ghouls sets the atmosphere as you enter the dungeon where accurate life-size figures of Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and others are featured in 13 scenes or dioramas based on the vintage movie chillers.  Many of the figures are made from the actual life casts of the actor's faces, plus some original costumes or props, in a wax museum style setting with special voice tracks by Vincent Price, Mark Hamill, and John Agar.  Many Hollywood props are on display and vintage films may be shown outdoors, weather permitting.  Hours are Friday through Sunday evenings, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., October 1 to 24. The Museum is not recommended for children under age 7. http://www.preservehollywood.com

Historic Happenings

At the historic Glebe House Museum in Woodbury on Saturday, October 23 costumed spirits will lead the way through the Ancient Burying grounds, where 20 of Woodbury's most famous and infamous 'spirits' await at their gravesites to relate tales from the darker side of 18th and 19th century Woodbury.  There will be a spooky candlelit tour in the museum itself and stories and tales from Moll Cramer, the Witch of Woodbury, told in the Museum cottage.  Madame Suzolo will be offering Tarot Card readings and there will be free fall refreshments for all.  The Hollow will be closed to traffic and the area, including the walk to and through the cemetery will be lit with over 200 luminaries.  Hours are 5 pm to 9 p.m. (203-263-2855) http://www.theglebehouse.org

The night of October 23 also brings the annual night Haunted Trail Walk from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center in Washington.  The Institute promises spiders, ghosts, goblins and monsters spooking the half-mile walk, which ends at the museum’s Indian village where apple cider and marshmallows roasted over the campfire await. (860-868-0518. http://www.birdstone.org

For the first time, the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston is scheduling Halloween Weekend train rides on its vintage trains on Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31.  The 20-mile round-trip ride runs along the Mattatuck State Forest to the Brass Mills of Waterbury and back to the spectacular Thomaston Dam.  Check for further details on Halloween Weekend happenings. (860-283-RAIL. http://www.rmne.org

Small Town Fun—for Free!!

Everyone is invited to join the Naugatuck Park and Recreation Department and Connecticut Signcraft at the “Children's Halloween Village” at Naugatuck Park on 258 Rubber Ave., the weekend of October. 22-24^th, and the following Thursday to Saturday October 28-30.  Children can have their photos taken with costumed Halloween characters.  Kurt Beckley from Balloon Benders will be creating balloon sculptures on Saturday, Oct. 23rd and Friday, Oct. 29th.  Hours are 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Cocoa, coffee and cider will be served. The only admission is a non-perishable donation for the food bank.

The 18th Annual Halloween on the Green in Danbury will take place on Saturday, October 30 from 2 pm to 4pm with a Costume Parade scheduled for 3:30 pm.  Prizes will be awarded for Most Original, Scariest, Cutest and Funniest get-ups.  Children will have their own costume parade and games and get to decorate a pumpkin.  (203-792-1711.  http://www.citycenterdanbury.com

 

The Big Day

Two special events will mark Halloween day in Bristol. The town’s free Halloween Carnival and Costume Parade for boys and girls up to 5^th grade will take place on October 31, from noon to 3 p.m at Rockwell Park.  The parade begins at noon and Amazing Andy’s Magic Show follows.  Carnival games, arts and crafts, Big Daddy’s Racing, an old fashioned photo booth, Twinkles and Jingles the clowns and Train Rides are also on the agenda.  Each child will receive a free reflective trick or treat bag. (860-584-6160)

On October 31, beginning at 4:30 pm, the annual Halloween Costume Party for Children will go on at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, with the costume contest scheduled for 5 p.m.  Ghoulish games and fun are promised, along with a crazy costume contest and what is billed as “frightening foods.”  Kids are free, but adults are asked to contribute $1. http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org

Finally, anyone who is in the area on Halloween night is invited to join the Safe Halloween fun at the Terryville Fairgrounds in Terryville from 6pm to 9pm.  Sponsored by the Terryville Lion’s Club, it will feature hayrides, games, food and treats.  All you need to participate is a non-perishable food item for the Plymouth Food Pantry.

For more information about Halloween happenings and other fall events and a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to lodging, dining and all the attractions in Western Connecticut, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, http://visitwesternct.com

The Restaurant at Winvian Wins AAA 2011 Five Diamond Award

October 2010 - Historical charm meets cutting edge cuisine at The Restaurant at Winvian, http://www.winvian.com where exceptional food, flawless service and luxurious yet comfortable décor has been recognized by AAA and received the prestigious Five Diamond Award for 2011.  The Five Diamond accolade is the highest level award given to lodgings and restaurants by AAA.

At the helm of Winvian's kitchen is Executive Chef Chris Eddy, a culinary architect, whose ever-changing menu highlights only the freshest farm-to-table cuisine, including fresh produce from Winvian's own seasonal, organic garden and delicacies collected from nearby farms. 

Winvian, a private and whimsical retreat ideally located just two hours from NYC, houses 18 luxe cottages and one suite on 113 acres of meadows and woodlands.


Winvian is Connecticut's only AAA award winning Five Diamond restaurant and one of two AAA Five Diamond Lodging Facilities in Connecticut -- the other being The Mayflower Inn http://www.mayflowerinn.com in nearby Washington Connecticut.

Tourism In Connecticut - The Time is NOW

Tourism is a key economic engine in Connecticut benefiting both residents and state coffers. The fact is tourism is one of the very few areas of the Connecticut budget that generates net revenue for the State. Marketing dollars allocated to generate this revenue are an investment; an investment in Connecticut’s economy and jobs!

Tourism in Connecticut:

• Generates $11.5 billion in total traveler and tourist spending[i]
• Generates $1.15 billion in state and local tax revenue
• Employs 110,775 people (6.5% of state total) in Connecticut
• Each Connecticut household would pay $950 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the tourism industry[ii]
• Casino gaming revenue supports vital state & local services[iii]
• $377.8 million (FY09) – contributions to state general fund
• $ 93.0 million (FY09) – grants to all municipalities statewide

Jobs created by tourism are good jobs, solid jobs, jobs that are both skilled and unskilled, held by people of all ages and are often the 2^nd job in a Connecticut family’s household, keeping that family whole and financially secure in tough times. Tourism jobs are home grown and cannot be moved out of state.

Connecticut is very fortunate to have as integral parts of its tourism product a diversity of offerings. Our state boasts the best in arts, history, culture, lodging, attractions, dining, casinos and so much more. Its advantageous location within two hours drive of major population centers, coupled with consumers’ needs to take more trips close to home, makes Connecticut an outstanding tourist destination.

Investing in tourism is investing in Connecticut’s economic future. Tourism affects many vital segments of our economy such as transportation, economic and community development, agriculture and outdoor recreation. Tourism is at the front door of our state’s economy.

It is targeted investment in tourism, however, that must happen in Connecticut by the State along side of private industry. This targeted investment will have a defined return on investment (ROI) in job growth, additional money flowing into Connecticut’s economy by out of state visitors, state revenue increases, and preservation of the arts, culture and natural heritage of Connecticut that makes our state such a great place to live, work and play.

States, regions and cities around the country have recognized the direct relationship between a strong, growing tourism industry and a thriving overall economy.

Our New England neighbors, for example, are each investing millions each year marketing their states, many times targeting Connecticut residents to visit there. All the while, Connecticut has allowed State support of the Statewide Marketing Fund to be reduced to $1.00 (one dollar) per year. In FY ’10 and ‘11, Connecticut became the only state in America to have NO tourism marketing budget. Colorado was the last state to try this by eliminating its tourism marketing function when, in 1993, it cut its marketing/promotion budget to zero. As a result, Colorado’s domestic market share plunged 30% within two years, representing a loss of over $1.4 billion in tourism revenue annually. Over time, the revenue loss increased to well over $2 billion yearly. By the time funds were restored, it took some eight years to return to pre-1993 levels of visitor spending.[iv]

The next Governor of Connecticut must be the leader who saves our state from becoming the next Colorado mistake. He must act now.

The next Governor of Connecticut must:

• Understand the travel and tourism industry and the vital role it plays in the state’s economy;
• Be involved and play an active role;
• Commit to investing in travel and tourism marketing both statewide and regionally in a strategically organized structure where the State and regional tourism districts are partners, instead of competitors, for limited State resources;
• Commit to investing in transportation options that support a vibrant Connecticut tourism economy. We need to invest in better roads and bridges, expand rail service and focus increased attention on Bradley International Airport as a more competitive airline/travel hub for New England and alternative to New York City gateways. Excellent transportation infrastructure is an important key for tourism investment paying significant dividends;
• Propose a $15 million budget to market Connecticut tourism. With over $1.15 billion being returned to state and local coffers each year as a result of the tourism industry, this investment is small compared to the return to Connecticut’s economy. Explore ways to match these funds with non-government dollars;
• Work with the Connecticut State Legislature to ensure adequate levels of funding for tourism.

Implementation:

• Direct the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, the state’s tourism marketing agency, to develop through internal and external means and input a master plan to chart the course for marketing the state using the increased funds. Additionally, the agency will examine its structure to determine how it can be strengthened both internally and externally;
• As a part of the master plan, develop recommendations of how best to implement a public/private funding model for State government tourism marketing. This type of model is used widely around the country, as well as privately in Connecticut, and can be an effective model for Connecticut;
• Engage regional tourism districts, local chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus and other key organizations as partners for marketing Connecticut;
• Grow regional marketing funding as statewide marketing funding is bolstered.

Conclusion - Tourism in Connecticut:

• Generates net revenue to the state’s economy;
• Creates jobs – homegrown jobs that cannot be moved out of Connecticut;
• Provides revenue for the State budget to help pay for other vital state social services which are non-revenue producing;
• Works as a catalyst for economic and community development, agriculture growth, transportation improvements and preservation of the environment;
• Creates a positive image and presents Connecticut as a great place to live, work and play.

Tourism is essential to Connecticut’s future. It is an integral part of our economy and our everyday life touching every person in the state in some way. Tourism and the revenue and jobs created because of it can, and will, help get Connecticut out of its budget deficit problems in the short term and help insure positive economic health in the future.

Tourism funding not only is the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. The time is now!

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[i] UCONN Center for Economic Analysis 2006 (includes direct, indirect & induced)

[ii] U.S. Travel Association, April 2010

[iii] Connecticut Office of Policy & Management

[iv] “The Rise & Fall of Colorado Tourism,” Longwoods International, 2009

Amazing Mazes Beckon Autumn Visitors to Western Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County

The mazes are amazing. Imagine acres of tall corn cut into twisting paths in whimsical shapes from crossword puzzles to bumblebees. Finding your way amidst these mazes of maize is a fun-filled adventure for all ages at four beautiful family farms in western Connecticut. Located in Litchfield and Fairfield Counties, the farms also offer hayrides, animals for petting, and apples and pumpkins ripe for picking to make for a perfect fall weekend outing.

Ellsworth Hill Farm in Sharon may take the prize for originality this season with a crossword puzzle maze covering four acres. Pick-your-own apples is another favorite activity at this berry farm and orchard. On hayrides at Ellsworth Hill “Farmer Mike” shows off the glowing foliage-covered hills of northwestern Connecticut and tells about the fruit varieties he grows on the farm.

One of the most elaborate maze designs is the bumblebee at Plaskos Farm in Trumbull. Plaskos is known for the imaginative designs cut each year through four acres of ten-foot-high corn. Crazy Cows, Spider Webs, and Lady Liberty are among the past creations. The twisty mazes provide some 15 miles of trails, but frequent escape hatches mean everyone can choose their own distance. Once again, hayrides are a scenic way to the fields.

Littlest guests will find a new treat this year at March Farm in Bethlehem, where a new Sunflower Maze designed for children is ready for action along with the traditional five-acre corn maze. This year’s main maze theme is designed to teach the value of composting. Along with the chance to pick your own apples, treats at this family-friendly farm include hayrides, and an animal farm where pygmy goats, lambs and llamas can be visited. An expanded Hayloft Playscape invites youngsters to enjoy a mini-hay loft, school and farmhouse, slides, a climbing wall and a tractor-themed sand play area.

Families also enjoy the six-acre corn maze in a unique triangle shape and the four-acre pumpkin patch awaiting visitors to Castle Hill Farm in Newtown. As an added treat, hayrides at Castle Hill bring visitors through a stream to the corn and pumpkin fields. Farm animals for petting and pony rides provide more treats for youngsters.

All of the mazes are open weekends through October, some into November. For exact hours and admission fees, check with each farm listed below or contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

Information:

Castle Hill Farm 40 Sugar Lane, Newtown, 203-426-5487, www.castlehillfarm.biz

Ellsworth Hill Farm, 461 Cornwall Bridge Road (Route 4), Sharon, www.ellsworthfarm.com

March Farm, 160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem, 203-266-7721, www.marchfarms.com

Plaskos Farm, 670 Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull, 203-268-2716, www.plaskosfarm.com