Litchfield's Fashion Night Out August 27

Litchfield is known for its quintessential village green, it’s wonderful restaurants, lively art scene and unique shops. To celebrate the end of the summer season, Litchfield merchants on the green will be staying open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 27 for the popular Fashion Night Out that will entertain visitors and residents alike.

West Street will be transformed into an “Open-Air Runway” featuring the latest ladies and men’s fashions for the upcoming season. Music for the event will be provided by the No Stress Band. Dress your best and strike a pose for the cameras.

This is a family fun summer event and a beautiful time of year for a stroll along West Street, while listening to some of the area’s talented musicians, while shopping at your favorite family-owned retailers.

For more information https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldsNightOut

For more area event information www.litchfieldhills.com

Back to the Future in Kent, Connecticut!

The Kent Historical Society, the Hills Film Festival, and the Kent Memorial Library are co-sponsoring an outdoor showing of the movie "Back to the Future II," Saturday, August 29 at 8:30 p.m. on the Kent Town Hall rear lawn. This is free admission thanks to generous sponsors.

This is an anniversary year for the show. The movie, starring Michael J. Fox, was originally set in 1985 and jumped to the future of 2015. As this is the final weekend before children in Region 1 head back to school, the organizations are hoping that everyone will celebrate the end of summer with this event. The Kent Historical Society's exhibition theme this year is "Camps of Kent; Memories of Summer. "

This movie is a perfect activity that is reminiscent of a camp event and the sponsors hope it will lay down new memories of summer for all of the visitors and residents of Kent.

The Kent Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent's artistic and cultural heritage. For more information, visit www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or call 860-927-4587.

The Kent Memorial Library's mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by providing materials, programs, and services to encourage reading, learning and imagination. The Kent Memorial Library is located at 32 North Main Street, Kent, Connecticut. Visit www.kentmemoriallibrary.org or call 860-927-3761 for more information.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Woven In Time: Kashmir Shawls at the New Canaan Historical Society

A new exhibit of Kashmir shawls is opening at the New Canaan Historical Society's Costumes Museum. The shawls shown reflect the preferences of Americans during the Victorian Period. Included in the exhibit are shawls from the 1st quarter of the 19th century through the end of the century. All shawls and costumes are from the Society's collection.

Deborah Bede, curator of the collection, has described the shawls and presented a history of the weaving process in preparing for this exhibit. Since the opening of the museum in 1968, the Society has acquired a large Kashmir shawl collection, gifted by New Canaan residents. The shawls date from the early to late 1800s, a transitional period in New Canaan and the United States. The country was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution when manufacturing replaced agriculture as the primary economic source.

Just before the Historical Society was founded in 1889, the Town joined the Industrial Revolution with its booming shoe manufacturing industry, bringing with it greater wealth to the community.

It was also the era when the summer residents arrived, with them came the fashions of New York. They built homes, employed local residents and patronized local stores. The shawls shown would have been worn or decorated the homes of many summer residents, topping pianos, covering beds, and draped over furniture. Models display how the shawls would have been worn during this time.

All items shown are generous donations of members present and past. Exhibit hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday - Friday and 9:30am-12:00pm Saturday. The New Canaan Historical Society is located on 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. For more information 203-966-1776 or http://www.nchistory.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Chocolate, Wine and Magic Train Rides!

The Naugatuck RR, Fascia's Chocolates and Haight Vineyard have teamed up to offer  Chocolate Decadence and Sunset Train Tour on Friday, August 28, 2015 and Friday, September 25, 2015.  Participants will enjoy a cocktail party beginning at 6 p.m. featuring music, Haight-Brown wines and appetizers.  The train departs at 7 p.m. from the historic Thomaston Train Station for a scenic train ride to Fascia's Chocolate Factory in Waterbury. Along the way there will be chocolate and wine pairings. 

When the train arrives at Fascia's participants will tour the factory and learn how chocolate is made before trying their hand at making their very own chocolate bar. Guests will enjoy chocolate lava cake, more wine and chocolates on the return trip to Thomaston Station.

Adults aren't the only ones that will enjoy a train ride, on Aug. 21, there is a special "Magic" Train ride perfect for kids. The Naugatuck Railroad Magic Chocolate Train will pull out for a magical evening of fun and chocolate.   Riding in a restored 1951 Budd Rail Diesel Car ("RDC"), a magician will perform tricks up close for the passengers while traveling between the 1881 Thomaston Station and the Fascia's Chocolates Station, where a special Chocolate Magic Show will be performed and guests will sample chocolate. The Train will depart the Thomaston Station, 242 East Main Street, Thomaston at 6:30 p.m. for a two-hour excursion. The special rail fare will be $30.00 per person and $25.00 per child (ages 3-12). 

On October 30 there will be a Chocolate Train for Halloween that departs at 6 p.m. Ghosts & goblins and everyone else will board the train at the Thomaston Station for a 6pm departure heading to the Fascia’s Chocolates Station where local businesses will be supplying Treats for all costumed riders.   Inside the Fascia’s Chocolates factory riders will enjoy complimentary Hot Cocoa and Apple Cider and take home a very special Treat. Once everyone has completed their Trick & Treating, the train will depart back to the Thomaston Station. The Halloween Chocolate Train fare is $25 per person with a $5 discount for anyone in costume.   

For reservations and ticket information http://www.rmne.org.  For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Flutter Zone at the Maritime Aquarium Norwalk

 Enter a magical environment all aflutter with exotic tropical butterflies in “Flutter Zone,” a special walk-through encounter that will be open at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk through September 7.

 “Flutter Zone” will be open on the Aquarium’s riverfront courtyard, and will be matched wing-for-delicate-wing by the new IMAX^® movie “Flight of the Butterflies,”  The Maritime Aquarium’s six-story screen.

“Flutter Zone” features dozens of varieties of exotic tropical butterflies from Asia, Africa and South America, all free-flying among Aquarium visitors. In ‘Flutter Zone,’ you walk among all these beautiful butterflies and some of them may even choose to land on your head or arm. It’s one thing to see animals. But, as also with the Aquarium's popular ‘Jiggle A Jelly’ exhibit, there’s an emotion involved, a commitment stirred, by physical connections – even with creatures as delicate as butterflies and jellyfish.

Visitors to “Flutter Zone” also can watch the life cycle of butterflies unfold, in a special section featuring the chrysalises whose metamorphoses will keep the exhibit stocked with flittering butterflies throughout the summer.

Displays also emphasize the horticultural and agricultural importance of butterflies and other pollinators.

Adjacent to “Flutter Zone” along the Norwalk River, The Maritime Aquarium is growing a “pollinators’ garden” filled with flowering plants that native butterflies specifically seek for food and egg-laying. Among these plants is milkweed. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed, and their caterpillars feed exclusively on the plant. Recently, however, monarch populations have declined as property owners cut milkweed or spray it with pesticides.  The Maritime Aquarium’s milkweed garden will be a certified monarch waystation designated by www.MonarchWatch.org.

Entry into “Flutter Zone” is free with Aquarium admission. For visitors with an aversion to possible contact with live animals, viewing of the butterflies is possible from outside the exhibit.

“Flutter Zone” is also a perfect complement to the Maritime Aquariums's new IMAX movie, "Flight of the Butterflies".

Get more details about The Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits, IMAX movies, programs and study cruises onto Long Island Sound this summer at www.maritimeaquarium.org. Or call (203) 852-0700.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Board the Maritime Aquarium's new research vessel

Be among the first to ride the country’s only research vessel with hybrid-electric propulsion during exciting public cruises offered this summer by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

R/V Spirit of the Sound™ begins her Aquarium service July 1, with outings at 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Labor Day.

The $2.7 million, 64-foot catamaran is bigger, quieter and greener than the Aquarium’s former boat, a 40-foot diesel-powered trawler.

“The fish, crabs, squid and other marine creatures that we bring up onto the boat will have to share top billing during this first season with R/V Spirit of the Sound,” said Tom Naiman, the Aquarium’s education director. “Participants will come away very impressed with the boat – for her unique hybrid propulsion and state-of-the-art navigation systems, but even more for her broad educational and research capabilities.”

During each Marine Life Study Cruise, animals are brought up out of Long Island Sound from different water levels and bottom habitats. A video microscope connected to a big-screen monitor provides a magnified look at wriggly plankton gathered at the sunlit surface. A biodredge reveals a hidden world of sponges, mollusks, worms and tiny crabs. And everyone inspects the trawl net's bounty: varieties of fish and crabs, skates, sea stars, squid and always a few surprises.

“Seeing these animals come up out of the water has a tremendous impact in helping our guests understand the diversity of marine life just off our shores and in inspiring them to act as stewards of the Sound and the environment when they go home,” Naiman said. “Plus, it’s just plain fun. Who hasn’t been on a boat ride and wondered, ‘What’s down there?’ Well, we show you.”

Participants are involved hands-on throughout each cruise. They take measurements, sort through mud samples to find animals, help pull in the trawl net and return animals to the water.

Besides being fun and eye-opening, Marine Life Study Cruises also contribute to local scientific research. Water-chemistry and weather readings are taken. And details about the animals brought onboard are entered into the Aquarium’s Long Island Sound Biodiversity Project, a database of physical and biological features available online to teachers and researchers.

All passengers must be at least 42 inches tall.  Particpants under age 21 must be accompanied by an adult.

The 2½- hour cruises depart from the dock outside the Aquarium’s IMAX® move theater.

Tickets for a Maritime Aquarium Marine Life Study Cruise are $29.95 (or $24.95 for Aquarium members).

Discounted triple combination tickets for a study cruise, Aquarium admission and IMAX movie are $49.95 for adults, $47.95 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+), and $42.95 for ages 12 & under.

Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended; walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting.  Get advance tickets online at www.maritimeaquarium.org  The triple combination tickets are not available online; instead, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the public outings, R/V Spirit of the Sound can be chartered for Marine Life Study Cruises by summer camps, Scouts and other groups at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays and at 9 a.m. & 1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.

R/V Spirit of the Sound also can be chartered for special outings on the Sound, including corporate celebrations and team-building events. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, for details.

For area information  www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Bruce Museum Seaside Center Welcomes New Residents: Baby Pufferfish

There are some exciting new residents at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center, and there’s even a new nursery to accommodate them. The Seaside Center is now home to several baby Northern Pufferfish, discovered recently while conducting a seine in the waters of Long Island Sound with a camp group from Greenwich Explorers.

There are two new nursery tanks that accommodate the baby puffer fish and  larger tanks for the adults. The fish have a rich gold, creamy white and mocha-banded body with vibrant sapphire eyes.

One of the more colorful residents of Long Island Sound, the Northern Pufferfish is so called because of its ability to puff itself up. By filling its swim bladder with water, thereby more than doubling in size, the pufferfish discourages attacking predators with its imposing appearance. Unlike its close relative the Fugufish — a prized delicacy in Japan — the Northern Pufferfish appears to be non-toxic and is considered a delicacy in the Chesapeake Bay area.

About the Bruce Museum Seaside Center 

The Bruce Museum Seaside Center is a beachside museum located in Greenwich Point Park, Old Greenwich, about 6 ½ miles from the main Bruce Museum at 1 Museum Drive in Greenwich. Located in the Floren Family Environmental Center at Innis Arden Cottage, the Seaside Center educates visitors about the ecology of Long Island Sound and features: • Live-animal marine touch tank open year-round • Four marine aquaria of local species open seasonally • Seashore dioramas of summer and winter birds, fish, and other local species • An underwater oyster reef • Environmental activities and video presentations • Helpful naturalists and volunteers Open for the 2015 summer season Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm

Kayak to Cockenoe Island

On Saturday, August 29 from 10 a.m. to noon join the Westport Historical Society for their annual kayak tour to Cockenoe Island, a 28 acre island one mile off the coast of Westport.

The tour will be led by David Park, board member of the Norwalk River Watershed Association and author of the guidebook "Kayaking in and around the Norwalk Islands". " I love leading this event each year that is both fun and educational. The participants have always been enthusiastic about kayaking out to the Westport island, walking along the shore and hearing about the history of the island and the many migratory bird stories that nest on parts of the island. My favorite part of the discussion is talking about how the stewardship of property by residents within the Saugatuck River watershed can effect the water quality of Long Island Sound and wildlife around the Norwalk Islands"

Cockenoe Island is open to the public thanks to the hundreds of Westport residents and town officials who fought against the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant back in 1967. The plan was brought forward by the United Illuminating Company who had purchased the island a year earlier from the Smith family, the owners of the island at the time. After the plan was defeated, the town of Westport purchased the island as open space and it is now enjoyed by all types of recreational users and nature enthusiasts. The acquisition was heralded as a significant conservation victory for the nation by Life Magazine.

The tour group will land on the island for a stroll and hear about how the Saugatuck River watershed effects the water quality of Long Island Sound and wildlife of the Norwalk Islands. Cockenoe Island is of particular interest because of the current conservation efforts and successful nesting colonies of egrets, herons and terns.

$20 fee per boat, Members: $15 , Rain date: August 30 Meet at: Longshore Sailing School, Longshore Park, Westport
Kayak rentals available from Longshore Sailing School, Call 203-226-4646 (single and double Kayaks are available). Intermediate level kayak ability is required.

Copies of "Kayaking in and around the Norwalk Islands" are available for $10 in the Gift Shop at WHS. Registration is required, limited number of boats. Please call us at 203-222-1424 to register.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Two weeks of summer fun for kids in Westport

For two sessions in August, at the Westport Historical Society, children ages 5 - 12 can participate in exciting activities led by their Educational Director, Elizabeth DeVoll. Both programs are offered Monday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm.

On August 10 and continuing until August 13, the theme is archeology! Children will have fun and excitement digging around in the past. We will dig up all sorts of facts about our history! Participants will explore natural and timeless crafts and hobbies as well as meet a rock expert who will share his awesome collection. They'll sculpt arrowheads, paint and design walking sticks, weave a basket, learn to play marbles and make a marble bag. Outdoor games and town walks are planned. The exciting finale will be a visit to Sherwood Island for a real dig.

The following week, from August 17 through August 20, junior inventors, engineers, builders and thinkers will enjoy an active and imaginative four days jam-packed with engaging fun. Build robots, shadow boxes, classic wooden games, unique and personalized building blocks, and that's just the beginning! Plenty of outdoor games, local walking tours and snacks are sure to please this group of creative thinkers!

Campers bring a bag lunch daily. Snacks and drinks are provided.

Junior Archeologists, August 10- 13, Junior Inventors, August 17-20 Cost: Registration is required, $190/members, $225/non-members; sibling discounts. Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, across from Town Hall. Register on line at www.westporthisory.org or call 203-222-1424.  

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

“The Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer”

Kent has had a long history of being home to a number of camps. The town's close proximity to New York City, coupled with its natural beauty, made Kent an attractive home to more than a dozen different camps over the years. There are residential camps still thriving in Kent that draw campers and parents to town each summer season.

To celebrate the long history of camping in Kent, the Kent Historical Society will offer a new exhibit "The Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer" at the Seven Hearths Museum. The exhibit is open weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 27.  The Seven Hearths Museum, is located on 4 Studio Hill Road just off of Rte. 7 in Kent.

Camp Po-Ne-Ma, Camp Francis, Camp Kenwood/Kenmont, Camp Leonard/Leonore (now Club Getaway), Camp Kent, Kenico, Geer Mountain Camp, Camp Milford, and others have all been located in Kent's hills and on its lakes. So many most joyful memories took place right here in Kent, and yet the story and setting of these much-loved places has never been told.

The town is still home to three state parks, two of which offer overnight camping. The phenomenon of exploring the outdoors through camping didn't come into existence until the early 20th century. The idea grew in popularity with every passing decade and became more widespread and democratic.

Curator Marge Smith and Trustee Melissa Cherniske have worked hard in recent months to create an exhibit that will explore the many facets of camping.

Several of the camp alumni associations are planning reunions around the exhibit this summer and the Historical Society looks forward to welcoming the former campers back to town.

The Kent Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent's artistic and cultural heritage. For more information, see www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or call 860-927-4587. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

10th Annual Green Corn Festival

Corn has long been an integral part of the annual cycle of life for many Native American people and when the first tender ears are ripe for picking it is cause for celebration.

Join IAIS staff and friends at the Tenth Annual Green Corn Festival as they welcome the first corn of the season with music, food, family & fun.

This year they are honored to welcome back the Native Nation Dancers, Schaghticoke, Objiwa and Lumbee, dancing both Northern and Southern Traditional styles and, joining us for the first time, dancers Albert Zamora, Mashantucket Pequot and Althnageebah Myles, Dine.

Storytellers Janis Us, Mohawk-Shinnecock descent and Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke will delight and entertain people of all ages with traditional Native American stories.

This event highlights fun-filled activities for the whole family including drumming, dancing, kids' crafts, storytelling, powwow style food,  the sale of arts and crafts and much more! Fee: $10 Adults; $8 Seniors; $6 Children. Under the tent.  This event is held rain or shine.

The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Rd. in Washington Connecticut. For more information 860-868-0518 or www.iaismuseum.org.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Ride the Rails - A Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour

On July 31 something sweet is going on in Thomaston Connecticut at the Railroad Museum of New England located on 242 East Main Street.  Haight Brown Vineyard, Fascia's Chocolates and the Railroad Museum of New England have teamed up and are offering the "Chocolate Decadence Sunset Tour" that is a sure way to indulge in locally made wine and chocolate.   This event promises to be an unforgettable experience, because the only other place in the world where you can take a "chocolate" train is in Switzerland.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Thomaston Station off of Rte. 6 with a reception featuring hor d"oeurves, live music, wine and even wine tastings. The train departs the station at 7:15 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. there will be a bubbly toast on the face of the scenic Thomaston Dam.  Don't forget to bring your camera or cell phone for photo opportunities. There will be two other Chocolate Decadent Sunset Tours on August 28 and September 25.

The trip continues as you pass lovely scenery while savoring fine wines from Haight Vineyard, Connecticut's first farm winery and chocolates from Fascia's, a chocolate company in Waterbury that has been making delectable chocolates for more than 50 years.

At 8 p.m. guests arrive for a private tour of Fascia's Chocolate Company.  A visit to Fascia's gives you the chance to see how these delicacies are made, take a tour, taste treats, even try your hand at making your own custom bar of chocolates, and of course, load up on freshly made chocolates at the factory store.  A freshly baked chocolate lava cake will also be served.

Guests depart Fascia's Chocolate Company at 9:15 and arrive back at the Thomaston Station at 9:30 p.m.  The ticket price is $75 per person and includes a scenic train ride, wine, hor d' oeurves, Fascia's chocolates, your very own custom bar of chocolate, and dessert. To reserve your ticket visit https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/rmne/

Litchfield's “Music Night Out” Returns Thursday, July 30th

Litchfield is known for its quintessential village green, it's wonderful restaurants, lively art scene and unique shops.  To celebrate July, Litchfield merchants on the green will be staying open until 8 p.m. July 30 and will entertain visitors and residents alike with the sounds of music!

From 5 p.m.  - 8 p.m., merchants will host a variety of local musicians at various establishments along The Green, for example, the ABC Music School Jazz Combo will be performing Jazz standards from 5:30-7:30 pm outside the West St. Grill.   

In Litchfield's bucolic Cobble Courtyard, from, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  the Western Lands Trio will  perform Folk renditions.   At Ollie’s Pizzeria from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Matt & Calley will be performing indie rock/indie folk inside the restaurant and Mike Savino will be performing inside @ the Corner’s bar from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. 

This is a family fun summer event and a beautiful time of year for a stroll along West Street, while  listening to some of the area's talented  musicians, while shopping at your favorite family-owned retailers.  

The summer series concludes with “Fashion Night Out” on August 27th.   For more information https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldsNightOut

FRANTIC @ Quassy Named One Of The Most Exciting New Theme Park Rides Of The Year

FRANTIC, the spectacular family thrill ride has made its debut  at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury, Conn., this summer was recently named one of the 19 most exciting new theme park rides of the year by America Online (AOL ®).

FRANTIC accommodates eight riders in a circular configuration with the seats suspended on a huge pendulum. The seats spin as the ride swings higher and higher before doing a series of 360-degree flips. The topsy-turvy attraction is located near the Grand Carousel.

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark also features more than two-dozen rides and attractions.  Popular rides in the park include the Wooden Warrior roller coaster, Music Fest, Free Fall ‘N drop tower, Paratrooper and the romantic Grand Carousel. Two Kiddieland areas cater to the tots with a variety of children’s rides.

On the shoreline of beautiful Lake Quassapaug, Splash Away Bay is the waterpark located on the lakefront with slides, cascading fountains and a splash pad for smaller children.

In the heart of the park is the Carousel Theatre stage with daily magic shows during the height of the season. Popular events at the stage include dance and karate days, an annual school music festival and a regional Irish dance competition.

Quassy also has a huge redemption arcade, restaurant, games, paddle boat rentals and excursions on Lake Quassapaug aboard the Quassy Queen.  For more about the park visit www.quassy.com. For more area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Music Mountain "swings" into Summer in Litchfield Hills

Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, continues its 86th season with Swingtime Big Band on Saturday, July 25th (6:30pm) playing the best music of the Swing Era! Plus pre-concert dinner at Falls Village Inn (5pm). The weekend continues on Sunday, July 26th (3pm) with the Avalon String Quartet performing Faure, Debussy, and Ravel with guest artists Jan Opalach, Bass-Baritone and Jonathan Yates, Piano and Music Mountain's new Musical Director. For the second season, Music Mountain is offering an extended summer program filled with Music Mountain debuts, first time guests, brand new series', and returning favorite bands and ensembles! Chamber, country, opera, jazz, and folk concerts are scheduled thru September 27th.

Swingtime Big Band returns for their 8th annual Music Mountain appearance on Saturday evening thrilling concert audiences and Ballroom dancers alike with authentic recreations of the timeless swing music of such great Big Band leaders as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey. Under the leadership of saxophonist and artistic director Steve Shaiman, the band is dedicated to the performance of America's greatest popular standards. The 20-piece authentic swing band, comprised of master interpreters of music from the Swing Era (mid-1930's through early 1950's), is committed to keeping this important music alive by performing as often as possible for audiences of all ages. The band features two vocalists who bring to life the sounds of legendary singers and crooners such as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra.

Music Mountain visitors are welcome to attend a pre-concert themed dinner at The Falls Village Inn (5pm) prior to Saturday evenings concert. Reservations much be received by Friday, July 24. For information www.fallsvillageinn.com

Sunday afternoon welcomes Avalon String Quartet with guest artists Jan Opalach, bass-baritone and Jonathan Yates, piano for a program filled with Music Mountain debuts! The extended program will include *Fauré: Mandoline, Opus 58 #1; *Debussy: Mandoline, L. 29; *Debussy: Fêtes Galantes II, L. 104; Debussy: String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10; *Lili Boulanger: Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie; *Ravel: Don Quichotte à Dulcinée; and Ravel: String Quartet In F. * indicates Music Mountain premieres.

Avalon String Quartet has established itself as one of the country's leading chamber music ensembles. They have performed in many major venues including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall in New York; the Library of Congress in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London and Herculessaal in Munich. The Quartet's live performances and conversation are frequently featured on Chicago's WFMT-FM. They have also been heard on New York's WQXR-FM and WNYC-FM. The Avalon String Quartet is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music.

The American bass-baritone, Jan Opalach, is one of the most versatile vocalists on the operatic stage. He is highly regarded for his superb understanding of a broad range of musical styles and eras. Mr. Opalach had been a regular guest of the New York City Opera since 1980. Among the many roles he has performed during his long association there, are Papageno in Die Zauberflöte;;Figaro, the title role in Le nozze di Figaro,: Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia. As a featured soloist, Mr. Opalach has sung with the acclaimed orchestras of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles, among many others and has achieved international recognition with appearances in Mexico City, The Netherlands, and Sweden. Mr. Opalach is an Associate Professor of Voice of the prestigious Eastman School of Music.
Jonathan Yates, pianist, is the fourth Musical Director of Music Mountain in its eighty-six year history. He is also Music Director of both the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and the Norwalk Youth Symphony. He has collaborated with many of the country's most respected musicians, including Midori, Kim Kashkashian, David Finckel, Gilbert Kalish, Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Paul Neubauer, Joseph Lin, and Anthony McGill. Mr. Yates made his professional orchestral conducting debut at 23, leading the National Symphony Orchestra in a Millennium Stages Concert, and made his Carnegie Hall debut (Stern Auditorium) as a pianist in the following year. He has also served on the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College.

Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Pre-Concert Dinner + Concert: $65. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm on Sundays, unless otherwise noted. Group rates and pre season ticket vouchers are available. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com