New Art Exhibition Kicks of 50 Year Anniversary @ Lockwood Mathews Mansion

In collaboration with Silvermine School of Art, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum kicks-off its 50^th Anniversary with a new exhibition by artist and professor of photography Bruce Dunbar. The exhibition titled, Endangered & Re-envisioned: Iconic Landmarks and Interiors will open to the public on April 7, 2016, 12-4 p.m. at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

Curated by artist and designer Gail Ingis-Claus, Endangered & Re-envisioned will run through July 6, 2016, with a fundraising reception on April 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; tickets for the reception are $10 for non-members and $5 for members. All proceeds will benefit the Museum’s cultural and educational programs.

 This exhibition will feature some of Mr. Dunbar’s analog and digital work focusing on several Connecticut structures built between 1870-1940, both private residences and public spaces, seeking to place them in their contemporary context of adaptive reuse. “I am seeking to unite the past history of the landmark with the present context in which it exists,” said Dunbar, “including both images of interiors and exteriors, in order to draw attention to the rich history of each landmark, it's various past import and current status as landmark."

This exhibition will feature some of Mr. Dunbar’s analog and digital work focusing on several Connecticut structures built between 1870-1940, both private residences and public spaces, seeking to place them in their contemporary context of adaptive reuse. “I am seeking to unite the past history of the landmark with the present context in which it exists,” said Dunbar, “including both images of interiors and exteriors, in order to draw attention to the rich history of each landmark, it's various past import and current status as landmark."

Born in Stratford, CT, Mr. Dunbar received his BA from Boston University and his MA from New York University. His photographs and mixed media have been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows in Connecticut and New York City. Currently, he teaches black and white and digital photography courses at Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT, as well as several workshops exploring different aspects on the art of photography.

Click! Snap! Like! From April 7, 2016 through May 1^st, visitors are invited to participate in a photo contest sharing their talent and favorite photo of the Mansion on the Museum’s Facebook wall. All photos must be of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s exterior and submitted no later than May 1^st. The winner will be announced on May 3^rd. Prizes will be awarded on May 18.

The exhibit will be on view as part of LMMM’s tours, Wed.-Sun. at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. General Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children and young adults, ages 8-18.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a National Historic Landmark since 1971, reopens to the public on Wed. April 6, 2016. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

For additional area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

What is Obscura Day at the Barnum Museum

On Saturday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Barnum Museum located on 820 Main Street in Bridgeport is opening their doors to all seekers of the rare, the unusual and the wondrous!

Conceived and built by American icon P.T. Barnum, the Barnum Museum has served a global audience since its opening in 1893. Although P.T. Barnum did not live to see the completion of the landmark site, the exotic building and collection is a reflection of Barnum's fascination with the world and his pioneering spirit to bring curiosity and wonder to all seeking knowledge.

Obscura Day guests will have the opportunity to join the Museum Executive Director and Curator on a special and private tour of the collections. Rarely seen artifacts including Tom Thumb's clothing, carriages and personal items, P.T. Barnum's wedding top hat from 1829 and his fascinating hand-written Copy Book that chronicles the European tour of Tom Thumb in 1845.

In addition, guests will have the opportunity to join staff on an exclusive hard-hat tour of the historic Barnum building. Currently under restoration after an EF1 tornado strike in 2010, the Museum has been actively restoring and re-envisioning its future. Guests are invited to be among the very first to witness the disaster recovery effort and learn the Museum's exciting plans for the future!

BRC Imagination Arts concept design for the future.

Following the tour, guests will have the opportunity to engage in lively conversations with the Museum staff and enjoy light refreshments in the special events gallery.  The cost is $35.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Planetarium shows at WSCU in Danbury

 Western Connecticut State University’s Westside observatory will host free, public planetarium shows and viewing parties on multiple Saturday evenings this spring. The observatory is on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave.  Extension in Danbury, between the Westside Campus Center and Pinney Hall on top of a small hill. The entrance road faces the front of Pinney Hall.

Planetarium shows will run for an hour. The times will vary with the sunset. After the show, the public is invited to view the night sky through individual telescopes or take turns with the large, 20-inch telescope. Telescope viewing will run for two hours, weather permitting.

Schedule of events:

• April 2: 7 – 8 p.m. planetarium show; 8 – 10 p.m. viewing of the spring sky, Jupiter

• April 16: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. planetarium show; 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. viewing of the waxing gibbous moon, spring sky, Jupiter

• April 30: 8 – 9 p.m. planetarium show;  9 – 11 p.m. viewing of the spring sky, Jupiter

• May 14: 8 – 9 p.m. planetarium show;  9 – 11 p.m. viewing of Jupiter, the moon past first quarter, Mars (late)

• May 21: 9 – 11 p.m. observing only, Jupiter, the full moon, Mars near opposition

Parking is very limited around the observatory, but more can be found on University Boulevard.

Planetarium shows are not appropriate for infants or toddlers. Public Nights may be canceled due to severe weather or hazardous road conditions. For updates, call (203) 837-8672 on the day of an event.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Hickory, Ash, & Reed: Traditional Baskets, Contemporary Makers @ Wilton Historical Society

The Wilton Historical Society located on 224 Danbury Road is hosting a new exhibition through October 15 that will feature both old and contemporary baskets. 

This exhibition showcases the work of select contemporary basket makers including Jonathan Kline, Stephen Zeh, Lois Russell, Kari Lonning, and Marion Hildebrandt and contrasts them with historic baskets from the Society's permanent collection. The work of these artists is grounded in the use of natural materials including brown ash,
black ash, hickory, willow and reed.

Working with familiar forms ranging from wide, shallow baskets to lidded baskets; large rectangular, loosely woven baskets to upright hampers; baskets designed for use in harvesting vegetables and fruit; carrying or storing a variety of household objects, their beautifully crafted work shows the influence of Shakers, Native Americans, and the traditions of the Northeast.
A highlight of the exhibition are the  contemporary Nantucket baskets made by Harry A. Hilbert and Gail Halvorsen.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

LAKE COMPOUNCE TO AWARD FIRST RIDE ON PHOBIA PHEAR COASTER TO 12 FANS WITH MAJOR PHEARS

Starting today, Lake Compounce Family Theme Park is inviting guests to share their deepest, darkest phobias with park officials via www.lakecompounce.com/phobiaphearcontest.Twelve terrified riders will be chosen to be the first to experience Phobia Phear Coaster on the park’s opening day, May 7^th at 11am. The 12 chosen guests will be highlighted on the park’s social media pages starting May 1^st along with their phobias. The general public is encouraged to attend this event on May 7^th to watch the 12 brave riders and to then ride Phobia themselves.

Lake Compounce announced this innovative and record breaking rollercoaster in July of last year. Phobia features an inversion at 150 feet in the air—one of the highest in existence and the tallest in the Northeast.  Guests will experience speeds of 65 mile per hour with many exciting and unique elements including multiple launches, a twisting heart-line inversion, and ascending and descending twists.

This rollercoaster, manufactured by Premier Rides, is both technologically innovative and environmentally sound including the most advanced magnetic launch system and a highly innovative power modulation system that represents cutting-edge green technology. This Smart Energy System uses high-tech military grade hardware designed to dramatically reduce high-end power requirements in order to lower peak demands to the regional power grid. 

About Lake Compounce

Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks and New England's premier family theme park opens May 7th for the 2016 season. Celebrating its 170th season, Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. Summer Season Passes are currently on sale for the 2016 season starting at $55. More information and the park's operating schedule can be found at lakecompounce.com.

 

Westport's National Hall Historic District Walking Tour April 2

Join Bob Mitchell and the Westport Historical Society on April 2 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.  for a walking tour of the town's Business Center District and discover facts about such historic sites as National Hall and the former Westport Bank & Trust Company building. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The one-hour walk kicks off at 3 p.m. at Jesup Green and will be led by Bob Mitchell.  This tour shows how important the Saugatuck River was to commercial economic development of Westport.

The riverbank area near Jesup Green is where Ebenezer Jesup, one of the town's most successful early businessmen, had his wharf, warehouse and store. In 1807, Jesup donated some of his land to the Connecticut Turnpike Company for the Post Road bridge over the river.

From Jesup Green the history tour will cross the Saugatuck to National Hall, built in 1870 by another prominent Westport entrepreneur, Horace Staples, to house his bank. Over the years this red-brick and cast-iron building has also been home to a newspaper, a furniture company, a plumbing store and the Inn at National Hall.

The tour will then return to the east side of the river, where Mitchell will discuss the old Westport Library, the former YMCA, and the wedge-shaped Westport Bank & Trust Company Building. The Y was built by Westport philanthropist Edward T. Bedford in 1923 on the site of the old Westport Hotel. The bank, also constructed in 1923, was purchased by a local developer in 2005 and is now occupied by Patagonia. The tour will go inside to view two murals that Westport artist Robert L. Lambdin painted for the bank in the 1960's.

On the way back to Jesup Green, Mitchell will talk about No. 76 Post Road East, which was formerly the site of Petrie's Ice Cream Parlor and the Fine Arts Theater. The first theater in the area to show foreign films, the Fine Arts, was closed in 1999 and its building remodeled by Restoration Hardware.

There is a $10 suggested donation. No charge for children 12 and under. Meet at Jesup Green in front of Westport Public Library's lower entrance. Parking is available at the town lot on Jesup Green (Taylor Public Parking Lot). For more information about the tour and to register, call (203) 222-1424. 

For more area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Learn baking tips @ cooking class hosted by Kent Historical Society

The Kent Historical Society is hosting a baking workshop with Patsy Stroble on April 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Kent's Parish House kitchen on 97 Main St. North in the center of Kent. Participants will take home treasured recipes, pick up valuable baking tips, and learn fancy decorating techniques. 

A $75 ticket to either of the baking workshops, April 15 or 16, also includes a ticket to the April 17 Musicale and Spirited Tea Party featuring music from the 19th century performed by the Rosewood Chamber Ensemble. Proceeds from both events will go toward the restoration of the Seven Hearths Museum. While exterior work is already underway, KHS must raise funds to match a generous grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to help complete the exterior phase of the planned restoration work before other work can take place.

The April 15 session will focus on the preparation of molded patés, savory tartes, the baking of miniature cupcakes and petit fours (for decoration the following day), and preparation of cake and cream puff fillings.

The April 16 session will be dedicated to the decoration of sweet treats with Patsy and her daughter, both professional decorators for many years. Learn techniques from the pros and help prepare gorgeous creations for the benefit in the process.

Space is limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Registration is available online at www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or by sending in a check to PO Box 651 Kent CT 06757. For more information, email reservations@kenthistoricalsociety.org. For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Mission of Kent Historical Society

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.

All Aboard with the Easter Bunny

The Naugatuck Railroad will start running trains for 2016 season on the day before Easter, Saturday, March 26th, from Thomaston Station along the restored Naugatuck River to Waterville, up into the beautiful Litchfield Hills to the Thomaston dam, and back to the station.

The excursion is 17 miles and lasts about an hour and a quarter. This is a great way to say good-bye to Old Man Winter and to celebrate the beginning of spring. Every child will be greeted by the Bunny after the train leaves the station. The Bunny even welcomes selfies with all the kids and their families.  The Naugatuck Railroad offers one of the few opportunities for individuals, friends, and families to take a ride into our past, passengers collect their tickets in a 1881 classical late 19th century train station before boarding the 1920 antique coaches. The Naugatuck Railroad offers a great opportunity to experience the heritage of rail travel when the railroads were considered to be the most modern form of transportation as they predated modern air travel for the public.

Three train rides are scheduled on March 26th at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Fares for children 2 years old and younger are free, children from 3 to 12 are $16, adults are $18, and seniors 62 and older are $16. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmne.org or phone 860-283-7245 anytime (24/7).

All tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. Trains depart from Thomaston Station at 242 East Main Street, Thomaston. Passengers can pick up tickets at the Thomaston Station's “Will Call” window on the day of the event. Tickets are printed with your name.  Please arrive at the Station 30 minutes before departure time. Trains depart promptly at the scheduled times.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

From birthday parties to corporate events, contact the RMNE to find out how the Thomaston Station and the Naugatuck Railroad can offer you a unique experience. The RMNE, located at the landmark Thomaston Train Station, is a not-for-profit, all volunteer, educational and historical organization that dates back to January 1968. The mission of the RMNE is to tell the story of the region’s rich railroad heritage through our educational exhibits and operation of the Naugatuck Railroad.