Maritime Cruise Experiences on Long Island Sound to Sheffield Island

The recipe for a perfect summer night out is available every Friday night in July and August thanks to a partnership between the Norwalk Seaport Association, Mama’s Boy restaurant and the Norwalk Parking Authority. “Maritime Cruise and Cuisine” Fridays are returning for a third year offering participants a cruise around the Norwalk Islands followed by dinner at Mama’s Boy and convenient, safe parking at the Maritime Garage.

 The Maritime Cruise and Cuisine package includes a Norwalk Harbor sunset cruise with the Norwalk Seaport Association’s “CJ Toth” ferry, leaving from Sheffield Island Dock (located on the corner of Water St and Washington St) at 6:00 pm and returning at 8:00 pm. Guests then walk one block to Mama’s Boy Restaurant, featuring a gourmet twist on Southern food, located at 19 North Water Street, for a three-course meal. The package price is $57 per person plus reduced price parking of $2 for the evening at the Maritime Garage. Cruise and Cuisine Fridays run through August 29^th.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is also offering up plenty of family fun in late July and early August with the pirates at the lighthouse!  The Pirates are coming to Sheffield Island on July 26 and 27 and August 2 and 3. Pirate Weekend activities are free, but participants must purchase round-trip ferry tickets to Sheffield Island. Tickets to the island are $22.00 for adults, $12.00 for children ages 4-12 and $5.00 for children age 3 and under, plus applicable service charge.

Bird watching Tours run through August 10 that offers visitors the experience to understand and explore the importance of Norwalk Islands and it’s many migratorial

bird species.  Larry Flynn, a master wildlife conservationist with DEEP will conduct these informative tours.

Scenic Cruises to Sheffield Island are offered through September. Trips to the island take visitors through the historic Norwalk Harbor area to the Island that offers unique views of the shoreline, a tour of the lighthouse and the chance to explore the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge or picnic on the beach.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the dock.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes with a closed heal or back strap; flip-flops are not allowed due to safety concerns.

The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in Historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and at the Norwalk Maritime Center Garage.

For information and reservations, please call the Norwalk Seaport Association, 203-838-9444 or buy tickets online at www.seaport.orgwww.seaport.org.

For special hotel and metro north deals and packages www.visitfarfieldcountyct.com

New Milford Connecticut Village Fair Days Set for July 25th and 26 in Litchfield Hills

Popular Kids Run at New Milford Village Fair Days

The center of New Milford located in the scenic Litchfield Hills is noted for it's long traditional village green laid out in 1872.  Here you will find monuments from past wars as well as a bandstand, first built in 1891 that is a symbol of New Milford's sense of community.

You can also explore many exceptional galleries, boutiques, restaurants and antique shops that are clustered in the heart of this village. Many are located in beautifully restored 18th and 19th century homes and buildings. Town Hall, facing the Green, marks the home of one of New Milford's most illustrious citizens, Roger Sherman, the only Connecticut man whose signature is on all key documents of the founding of this nation.

On July 25 and July 26, 2014 the New Milford Green becomes a hive of activity with the many activities and family fun offered up at the 47th Annual New Milford Village Fair Days.
 
This is the largest annual event in New Milford.  Hundreds of  vendors including local businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs exhibit their unique offerings. If you like crafts, you won't be disappointed as many skillful crafters offer their wares along with antique dealers that offer a variety of sought-after antiques.

Food is a big element of any Fair and New Milford's food vendors won't disappoint.  There is even a dining tent and two days of entertainment that add to the festivities.  Participants in this year's food court include: New Milford Rotary Club, Water Witch Hose Co 2, The Cookhouse, CC's Spiral Potatoes, Crab Cakes & Coconut Shrimp, Alfredo's/Colosseo Restaurants, New Milford Lions Club, Thomas's Ice Cream Truck, American Pie Company, Greek Isle and Primos Deli.

Exploring the south Green you will find a variety of businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs, while the north Green hosts master crafters and sought-after antiques. Food vendors can be found in the mid-section of the Green where fair goers, will find everything from tasty snacks to a wonderful meal that can be enjoyed in the large sit-down dining area.

The Fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM on July 25th. Among the many highlights on the 29th are the tour of town hall at 2:30 p.m., a performance by Theatre Works from 1:45 p.m. - 2 :15 p.m., historic walking tours at 4 p.m.,  a Children's Fun Run at 6:00 PM and music by Higher and Higher from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m..  

On Saturday, July 26 the Fair opens at  9:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM.  Highlights on the 30th include: the 47th Annual 8 Mile Road Race & 12th Annual Fair Days 5K at 9:00 am, and Old Fashion Pie eating contest from 2 p.m. - 2:45, historic tours at 2:30 and 4 PM and Steppin Out with Curtis T band from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

For further information, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 860.354.6080 or visit http://www.newmilford-chamber.com for up to the minute information.

Vintage Children's Book Fair in Southport Connecticut

Over 300 vintage children's books from the early-19th – mid-20th centuries will be included in Pequot Library's 54th Annual Summer Book Sale, including more than 100 different editions on Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Variations on this classic children's book offered at this sale include multiple versions produced by different publishers of Robinson Crusoe rewritten in one syllable words, as well as unusual adaptations of the story, including Dog Crusoe, Little Robinson Crusoe of Paris, and Arctic Crusoe. Typical of what is being offered is a beautifully illustrated 1882 edition.

Robinson Crusoe was first published on April 25, 1719. The first edition credited the work's fictional protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a travelogue of true incidents. Despite its simple narrative style, Robinson Crusoe was well received in the literary world and is often credited as marking the beginning of realistic fiction as a literary genre.

Pequot Library's 54th Annual Summer Book Sale runs from Friday, July 25 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014. It is known as "The Best Book Sale in New England." Admission is free and all Sale proceeds help fund Pequot Library's over 400 yearly inter-generational programs and events. High quality books at reasonable prices, with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

Over 40 categories, including the favorites: Children's Books; Art and Photography; Business; Biography; Several sections of History (USA, European, World, and Military); Computer Software and Books; Cooking; Crafts and Style; Foreign Language; Gardening; Mystery and Thriller; Romance; Science; Sports; Science Fiction; Current Fiction; Classic Fiction; Poetry and Drama; Trade Paperbacks; CDs, DVDs, records, tapes, and Audiobooks; Sheet music, music books, comic books, prints.

Please visit www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15.  The Pequot Library is located on 720 Pequot Rd. in Southport, CT.

After enjoying the book fair, be sure to stop in at the Delamar in Southport http://delamarsouthport2-px.trvlclick.com/dining.html for lunch, dinner or a thirst quenching beverage!   The restaurant combines local, seasonal flavors through New England inspired cuisine. Dine in the elegant yet relaxed dining room or on the outdoor patio with a lovely garden that is the perfect place for dining al  fresco.  For more information 203-307-4222.

New Exhibition at Brookfield Museum of Vintage Ladies Apparel

The Brookfield Historical Society and Museum has put together a fascinating array of vintage ladies apparel for their summer exhibition that can be visited from noon to 4 p.m. on each Saturday in August. This display, put together is composed of apparel that period dresses once worn by Brookfield women.

For visitors viewing the exhibition it is like looking at images from a turn of the century hand tinted Godey girl fashion print. A formal dress worn by Brookfield's Eleanor Stuart Terrill in 1892 still looks as if it just came out of a box purchased last week and is a highlight of the display. Most of the items on display are part of the Museum's collections although a few pieces have been loaned to the Museum by private parties.

On display, visitors can admire vintage wedding and morning dresses, formal evening wear, early high button and dress shoes, lingerie, veils and Victorian and early ladies handkerchiefs.

For more information www.brookfieldcthistory.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

About the Brookfield Historical Society and Museum

The Brookfield Museum & Historical Society maintains a collection of more than 13,000 dated artifacts dealing with Brookfield. To help researchers and to better share our collection, they utilize the revised and expanded version of Robert G. Chenhall's system of classifying man made objects. Please contact them at 203-740-8140 if you have an interest in a particular artifact.

The Research Center has books on the history of Brookfield, surrounding towns and the State of Connecticut. There are genealogy items - books, diaries, compact discs, and cemetery records.  Old newspapers, maps, deeds, and old tax records are also available. Additionally books on collecting antiques, dating old photographs and preservation can also be found as well as many old photographs and videos of Brookfield.

The Research Center is open during the times that the Museum is open and by appointment. The materials are not available for loan and must be used in the Museum building.

Beatles festival "Danbury Fields Forever" at Ives Concert Park

The New York/New England regional Beatles festival, "Danbury Fields Forever," will "come together" Saturday, July 26 & Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, Connecticut. Doors will open at noon, and the music will continue until 8pm daily.

The Music, Foods & Arts Festival is in its third year, with 10 bands per day playing the music of The Beatles, solo material and songs from the 60s. The full line-up of performers has been announced. Acts include The Hofners, The Oh-Nos, The Mystery Tour, AfterFab, Fools On The Hill, Charlie Guitar, Studio Two, Beatlehead, Thunder Road, The Way-Back Machine, Rotary and the national touring group Beatlemania Again. There will be live tributes to George Harrison by Pete Santora (formerly of Broadway's "Beatlemania"), Sir Paul McCartney by Mike Miller's "One Sweet Dream," John Lennon by Dave Pal in his "Lennon Legacy" show and to Elton John by Bill Connors. Students from School of Rock in both New York and Connecticut will have their star students performing sets of Beatles classics. Also, the winners of the web talent search project StarOnTheWeb.com will be performing.

o celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles' U.S. arrival in 1964, one-day "Ticket to Ride" admissions to the Festival start at only $19.64, but these special discounted early-bird advance prices are good for a limited time only. Advance ticket available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/danbury-fields-forever-iii-tickets-11495548495. There are also V.I.P. tickets available, discounted two-day passes and hotel packages. Tickets will be higher at the door.  For guests staying overnight, there is a reduced rate hotel package.

Ives Concert Park is located at 43 Lake Avenue Ext. on the campus of Western CT State University in Danbury, CT. This year there will be more Beatle and memorabilia dealers and vendors, exhibitors, along with a larger variety of food options available.

"Danbury Fields Forever lll" is presented by Charles F. Rosenay!!!'s Liverpool Productions, the same company that presented "NYC FAB 50," The Beatles' 50th Anniversary Celebration in New York City in February, and organizers of the annual Magical History Tours to Liverpool & London (www.LiverpoolTours.com). A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit a designated charity.

For further info, visit website: www.Fab4Musicfestival.com, or phone (203) 795-4737.

Contemporary Crafts Gallery presents exhibition of original prints from around the world

Revel in a professional display of recent works by local national and international printmakers; landscapes, portraits, animals, botanicals, representational and abstract original artwork, created by hand using traditional and contemporary printmaking methods. Over 210 diverse images, each print one-foot square, are on view this summer at the 4^th Biennial Footprint International Exhibition, Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP), 299 West Ave., in Mathews Park, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850, www.contemprints.org, 203-899-7999.

Waving Goodbye

The call for entries for the “Footprint International” exhibition is sent all over the world, to printmaking ateliers, gallerys, schools and individuals, at least 6 months before the exhibit opens. A juror is designated to reviews the original artworks after they arrive at the gallery, to select works for inclusion in the exhibit and award prizes. The Biennial Footprint International Exhibition is held on even-numbered years, alternating with the Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition, which is held on odd-numbered years.

Cavemen/Kaliedoscope

The exhibition runs  through Sunday, August 31, 2014 and the hours are Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 12 to 5 pm. The Center is closed on July 4. Admission is free, and the gallery is handicapped accessible.  This biennial exhibition is an opportunity for visitors to acquaint themselves with current trends in the art of the original print from around the world. All artwork is for sale. The “footprint” in the exhibition title refers to the size of the artwork on display; each image is a one-foot square print.

The Great Expectation

Prize Winners 

Juror Elisabeth Hodermarsky, Sutphin Family Senior Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, Photographs at the Yale University Art Gallery awarded Best in Show to Miriam Rudolph, (Minnesota) for her artworks, Waving Goodbye, 2012, intaglio/ chine colle/hand coloring, and Return, 2012, intaglio /chine colle. Elisabeth awarded two Juror Prizes: to Anne Desmet (United Kingdom) for Cavemen/Kaliedoscope, 2014, lithograph/engraving/ collage, and Changing Perspectives – Homage to Piero della Francesca, 2014, engraving/ collage; and to Josef Werner (Germany) for The Silence, 2014, etching/drypoint/embossing and The Great Expectation, 2014, etching/drypoint/embossing.

Two Connecticut artists, both CCP members, received Honorable Mentions: DeAnn Prosia (Newtown,) and Karen Kalkstein (Stamford). In addition, the juror awarded Honorable Mentions to 11 other artists including: Daniel Chiaccio, Kate Higley (New Hampshire);  Katerine Kyselica, Sigita R Pranevicius (New York); Ellen Price (Ohio); Daniela Zekina (Canada); Christa Manz-Dewald (Germany); Aoiffe Layton, Bernadette Madden (Ireland); Adam Czech (Poland); and Kirsty Olivier (South Africa).

Participating Artists

Fairfield and New Haven Counties Well Represented by Area Artists
Other Connecticut artists in the exhibition include: Karen Vogel (Darien); Susan Newbold (Fairfield); Nomi Silverman (Glenville); Marian "Bing” Bingham (Greenwich); Anita Soos (Guilford); Thomas Stavovy (Hamden); Cynthia MacCollum (New Canaan); Oi Fortin, Evie Lindemann, Liz Pagano (New Haven); Binnie Birstein, Karen Brussat Butler, Katharine Draper (Norwalk); Allison Meyler (Ridgefield); Betty Ball, Hanneke Goedkoop, Mindy Green (Rowayton); Lou Hicks (Stamford); Kathleen DeMeo (Wallingford); Brenda Giegerich, Ruth Kalla Ungerer, Cecilia Moy Fradet (Westport); Renee Santhouse (Wilton); Margot K Rocklen (Woodbridge); and Karen Sorensen (Woodbury).

National and International Artists in the Exhibition
Stateside. In the USA, art by other printmakers from New York State towns and cities were by far the largest group, including: RM Gallimari (Astoria); Jane Cooper (Katonah); Christine S. Aaron, Ellen Lazarus, Annette Lieblein (Larchmont); Katharine Dufault, Lynne Lederman (Mamaroneck); Richard Sloat, (New York, New York); Lenny Librizzi (Staten Island); Susan Miller (Sparrow Bush); and Mitchell Visoky (White Plains). Printmakers from other states included: Liz Lyons Friedman (California); Dakota Nanton (Colorado); Sal Sidner (Florida); Karl LeClair (Idaho); Christine Beneman, Scott Schnepf (Maine); Steven Matthews (Maryland); Paula DeSimone, Cheryl Sutton Adams (Massachusetts); Jean Allemeir Boot, Andrew Jagniecki (Michigan); Rachele Unter (New Jersey); Joan Potkay (New Mexico); Anne Cushman (Ohio); Carrie O'Coyle (Oregon); and Sergey Zlotnikov (Pennsylvania).

Overseas. International artists also included a good showing from our neighbors in Canada: Marie
Ange-Brassard, Daemon Baldwin, Peter Barron, Lysandre Donaldson, Ingeborg Jurgensen Hiscox, Louise Simard, Robin Smith Peck; and Cleo Wilkinson (Australia); Savina Montovska, Roland Shneevays (Bulgaria); Gerda Muehl, Marianne Riss (Germany); Aidan Flanagan, Joan Gleeson, Paula Pohli (Ireland); Adiana Lucaciu (Romania); Angus Buchanan, Gervasio Robles, Michele Rolstone (South Africa); Raul Ceville (Italy); Kristina Norvilaite (Lithuania); Toshinori Tanuma (Japan); Bo Cronqvist (Sweden); and Neala Glass (New Zealand).

Westport Arts Festival

This year marks the 41st for the popular Westport Arts Festival that is taking place this year in the center of Westport in Parker Harding Plaza and on Gorham Island on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on July 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Festival goers can expect original  juried works in Painting, Watercolor, Photography, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed Media, Glass, Ceramics, Fiber, Jewelry, Wood and Digital Art dispayed along the lovely Saugatuck River in the heart of this charming riverside community. 

Best of all, visitors will experience more than just the visual arts at the Westport Fine Arts Festival: there will be unique street performances, live music, hands-on art activities, and delicious food from local restaurateurs. As for kids, they will enjoy the special Beach Bonanza Children's Tent Zone provided by the Westport Arts Center. This area will feature both collaborative and individual hands-on projects, all with a seashore inspired theme! From string murals to large-scale jellyfish, kids will be sure to have a blast; just look for the the palm trees to find the Kid Zone.

As for entertainment, there is plenty with an exciting line up as follows: 

Saturday July 19

10:15 – 11:30 Chris MacKay and the Tone Shifters

11:45 – 1:00 Shiny Lapel Trio

1:15 – 2:30 Paul Brockett Roadshow Band

3:00 – 4:30 Mill River Band

5:00 – 6:30 Dr. B and The Brotherhood

Sunday July 20

10:15 – 11:30 Josi Davis and Hot Damn!

11:45 – 1:00 Pete Herger Band

1:30 – 2:45 Dylan Conner

3:10 – 4:30 Washboard Slim and the Bluelights

 For More information visit www.westportfineartsfestival.com.  For information on Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Photos Westport Arts Festival

Railway Post Office Dog Day at the Danbury Railway Museum

On Saturday, July 19, the Danbury Railway Museum will host a celebration
honoring the legacy of Owney, the Railway Post Office dog.  A centerpiece
of the day will be the museum’s fully-restored Pennsylvania Railroad
circa-1910 Railway Post Office (RPO) car.  The museum at 120 White Street
is open from 10am to 4pm.  Admission for this event is $8.00 (under 3 is
free) which includes a train ride, access to all activities, and a free hot

dog!

 
Owney was a stray dog which found its way into the Albany, NY post office
in 1888 and was soon adopted by the Railway Mail Service clerks and became
the mascot of this elite government service.  He traveled throughout the
state, and then all over the country, in the RPO cars, eventually venturing
around the world as a U.S. Post Office Department “emissary” in 1895.  In
2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp to honor him.  Owney
has been preserved and is on display at the National Postal Museum in
Washington, DC.  Visitors to the museum on the 19th will hear the true
story of Owney, the mascot of the U.S. Railway Mail Service, and can tour
the lovingly-restored RPO car.   

The “Railyard Local” – a short train ride in a 1920's passenger coach or a
vintage caboose pulled by a 1947 GE "44-Tonner" or ALCo RS-1 locomotive –
will take visitors through the historic rail yard and past over 60 vintage
railroad cars and locomotives, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive
built in 1907.  Riders will have an opportunity to “go for a spin” on the
operating turntable.  Trains depart hourly from 10:30 to 2:30.  Of course,
the fascinating exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will be
open, along with a fully-stocked gift shop.  The model train layouts inside
will also be operating.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by
volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about,
railroad history.  The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury
Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT.  For further
information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org, email to
info@danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

Bob Gregson: Archi/Abstracts at New Canaan's Gores Pavilion

This summer and fall, the New Canaan Historical Society is presenting the photography of Bob Gregson entitled Archi/Abstracts at the Gores Pavilion in Irwin Park located on 848 Weed Street in New Canaan Connecticut.

Bob is an artist who has a passion for architecture and modern design. The photographs in this exhibit are details of familiar buildings by well-known architects. Originally taken to document his trips to architectural icons, these photos are shot on the run and thus have a fresh and immediate look to them. As Gregson explains, "It was not necessary to document the buildings as much as to capture a spontaneous moment that expressed, in a simple detail, the heart and spirit of my experience." Since these are done on the fly the essence of the building needs to be sized up quickly.

When viewing the exhibition it is clear that there is a focus on the details and characteristics that embody the personality of each building. The  translation from a  three dimensional experience to a flat image is not easy to achieve but these photographs show great skill in doing this.

Bob Gregson received a B.F.A. from the Hartford Art School and an M.F.A. from the Art Institute of Chicago. His work ranges from large-scale participatory pieces to drawing and photography. He has exhibited nationally as well as his home state of Connecticut. He is a Silvermine Guild Artist in New Canaan, Connecticut and is the creative director of the Connecticut Office of Culture & Tourism.

The Gores Pavilion is located in Irwin Park, New Canaan. The exhibit runs through November 7, 2014. The Gores Pavilion is open from Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment; call 203-966-1776. Admission is free to Society members and $5 for non-members.

Lost and Found Circus Exhibit at Bridgeport's PT Barnum Museum

The Barnum Museum is featuring an amazingly original display, Lost and  Found Circus: A Creative Balancing Act by Bridgeport artist Susan Tabachnick through August 30.

The exhibition  features a circus-themed presentation of small sculptures created with found objects, many of them  incorporating old industrial parts and small tools. The components are not altered in any way, but are  assembled into whimsical sculptures suggestive of the lively energy and humor that characterizes the  circus. The assemblages give “new life” to items originally made for other purposes. Tabachnick  never forces the unions and she doesn’t weld or glue the pieces together; they must fit or balance.

Each of Tabachnick's creations in this exhibition begins with a particular piece of salvaged material to
which she is attracted. The sculptures often evolve as a balancing act, as Tabachnick experiments
with finding just the right parts, using her own fluid and flexible approach to making art. All of the
work in the show is assembled this way; none of the components are permanently affixed. Like a real
circus, the components can readily be disassembled and transported to a new venue, and if the artist
chooses, the found objects can come together in new ways.

"The Lost and Found Circus is always a work in progress," explained Tabachnick, "an infinitely
creative and organic assemblage of salvaged pieces that invites people to see new possibilities. What
is most enjoyable to me are the reactions to my work, and the different references and perceptions
that viewers bring to it. I never intended to make a circus. The pieces came together serendipitously,
each with its own eccentric personality, not dissimilar to that of traditional circus characters. Over the
years, the theme kept percolating to the point where there is now a troupe."

The Barnum Museum is located on 820 Main Street, Bridgeport in the People’s United Bank
Gallery. The entrance to the museum is located at the back of the historic building and the hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For more information on the PT Barnum Museum, call 203-331-1104 ext.100, M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.barnummuseumexhibitions.org.

For information on Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Twilight in the Garden at Hollister House July 12

Horticultural enthusiasts and bon vivants are cordially invited to savor the enchantment of Twilight in the Garden in the cool of the evening from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Hollister House Garden. In a remarkable setting of charming views in all directions and the company of like-minded gardeners and friends, Twilight in the Garden guests can enjoy the garden with a glass of wine and cheese and hors d'oeuvres.

An exciting aspect of the garden this year is the new rill, a very narrow, 28-foot long water channel on the upper lawn behind the house. The rill is a classic but uncommon element of landscape design that places the sound and movement of water into the garden.

Stars of this very English garden at its early-summer peak are an exuberant abundance of daylilies, hydrangeas and old-fashioned phlox, plus various other happy plants spilling onto walkways, tumbling over walls and climbing up arches. Dahlias add masses of color and also offer quiet moments in certain places in the garden that are surrounded by a profusion of texture and form.

A 36-year labor of love by Washington resident George Schoellkopf, gardener extraordinaire and respected Early American antiques dealer, the romantic Hollister House Garden is beautifully situated on a gently sloping hillside behind a rambling 18th century farmhouse. The garden 's intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and the natural landscape, are lavishly planted with both familiar and exotic species in often surprising color combinations and open onto stunning vistas. 

Like many great gardens, it continues to be a work in progress. Hollister House Garden is one of only 16 exceptional gardens currently designated a Preservation Project by the Garden Conservancy, whose mission is to identify and preserve important and historically significant gardens across America for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Hollister House in 2010 achieved its prestigious listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the property was also named a Town Landmark Site by the Town of Washington.

The Twilight in the Garden party is priced at $30 per person, or for HHG members at $25 person. Reservations must be made in advance either on the Special Events page of the website a www.hollisterhousegarden.org or by phone at 860-868-2200. Hollister House Garden is open to visitors every Saturday through September. For June, July and August, hours are 8 to 10 am and 3 to 6 pm; September hours are 10 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Directions to the garden's 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are also available on the website.

For information on the Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Pickin' & Fiddlin' Contest

Forty years ago, the Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department in conjunction with it’s annual “Old Roxbury Days” sponsored a contest to display the skills of musicians playing country and bluegrass music.  Over the years this contest has grown and is now the biggest of its’ kind in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. Fiddlers from near and far will be competing once again this year for more than $3200 in prize money so the competition will not only be fierce but also entertaining.

This year’s event will be held at Hurlburt Park located at 18 Apple Lane Roxbury on Saturday July 12, 2014 beginning at 2:00 pm.  and the musical categories are endless. You can listen and watch talented musicians play the  Old Time Fiddle; Old Time Banjo; Mandolin; Trick and Fancy Fiddle.  There will also be  Finger Picking and Flat Picking Guitar; Bluegrass Banjo and Band Playoff. An number of bands will be interspersed between competitive categories to keep spectators entertained.

Remember to bring a lawn chair, blanket, picnic and your own beverages; but please leave your dog at home.  Food, refreshments and crafts will also be available at this popular event for purchase.

Admission is $10. Children under 10 are free. Free parking is also available. Contestant registration starts at 1:30pm. The rain date for the event is Sunday, July 13, 2014 at noon.

Torrington is New Home for Karen Rossi Studios

Internationally known artist Karen Rossi is excited to call Torrington her new home. Rossi's new studio is located in the heart of Torrington in the Allen Building at 27 East Main Street and houses a gallery, showroom, workspace and classroom area.

 Rossi is highly regarded for her original metal sculptures has created more than 500 original characters... celebrating the seasons, holidays, professions, friends and family, children, hobbies and a host of other life-inspired themes. Her whimsical work features metal as well as broken crystals, charms and other embellishments that make them eye catching and unique. 

Rossi is most known for her giftware designs known as Fanciful FlightsTM, which she has licensed to major companies, enjoying worldwide sales. Fanciful Flights are metal caricatures of people adorned by charms that tell the story of a person's hobby or profession. Long before Rossi was involved with arts licensing, her originals were commissioned and collected by the likes of Neiman Marcus, Booz, Allen & Hamilton, lobbies of Hospitals, and the Hartford Courant. 

Karen's themed groupings of artwork include: Animal Kingdom, On the Road, Celestial, Christmas, Halloween, the Glorious Garden, Just for Kids, Paradise Island, Ladies with Red Hats, Festivities of Faith, Bistro, Girlfriends, Celebration and Fanciful Flights TM. For details of this artwork visit http://www.karenrossi.com.

The 27 East Main Street destination will feature demos and crafting workshops including painting on glass and Mosaics. Rossi has been hosting Art Parties for over 30 years and is particularly excited to offer, "Make your own T-town ballerinas and Mad River Mermaids." The artist has been involved with several CT Art communities and is excited to showcase the work of comrades and guest Artisans from Hartford, New Haven, South, and the Litchfield Hills. The new studio will also feature a clearance area for sales of retired Rossi giftware.