THE MARITIME AQUARIUM TRANSFORMS INTO THE AQUA-SCARIUM

Kids in Halloween costumes can get free admission to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on the final two weekends in October when the popular family attraction transforms into the Aqua-Scarium.

Children age 3 to 12 who come to the Aqua-Scarium in costume on Oct. 22, 23, 29 or 30 get free admission (a $15.95 value) with each paying adult. Adult admission is $22.95. (The offer requires one paying adult for each free costumed child.) Plus, each of the four weekend days, kids can collect candy and prizes in safe trick-or-treating (while supplies last), and everyone can take part in family-fun (non-scary) activities and encounters.

At the Aqua-Scarium activity station, youngsters can decorate a free trick-or-treat bag to use to collect candy and prizes at special stops throughout the animal galleries. Follow a special map to locate the cauldrons of collectibles. Also each day of Aqua-Scarium:

• Face-painters will enhance Halloween alter egos, turning guests into wild creatures, superheroes, princesses and more. Face-painting times are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Supplying the artistry will be Wells Noonan of Face-Painting by Wells (Oct. 22, 29 & 30) and Picasso Parties (Oct. 23).

• A dragon will be loose ... but not too loose ... at a "Meet the Dragon" station. Aquarium educators will invite guests to touch or hold a live bearded dragon, one of the nine species of dragons displayed in the "Dragons: Real or Myth" exhibit. "Meet the Dragon" times are 11 a.m.-noon and 1 to 2 p.m.

The Aqua-Scarium itself will be ghoulishly decorated for Halloween, with jack-o'-lanterns, seasonal accessories and staff dressed in costume.

For more details, go to www.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Historic Walking Tour in Wilton

Join former First Selectman and Wilton historian Bob Russell on a walking tour of the Wilton Historical Society's preserved buildings at Lambert Corner. To be held on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00, the hour-long guided tour of includes Lambert House, formerly known as "Lilacstead", which was built on the site c.1726, and eight other buildings moved there in order to preserve them.

They are the Lambert Cottage, Kent District School, Hurlbutt Street Country Store and Post Office, Wilton Railroad Station, Davenport Barn, Cannon Family General Store, 18th-century Cannon Family Corn Crib and the not-to-be-missed George Davenport Greek Revival Privy. The entire site comprises Wilton's Historic District #1.The group will set out from the porch of the Historical Christmas Barn.

Mr. Russell, Wilton historian and author of Wilton, Connecticut: Three Centuries of People, Places, and Progress, will share some of the interesting stories of the people associated with the buildings. He may well recount the details from a chapter in his book concerning "the most sensational crime in Wilton's history, which took place in December 1897, when the last Wilton member of one of the town's most prominent families, a quiet unassuming gentleman schoolteacher, David S. Lambert, was shot down in cold blood in his home, the Lambert House".

The buildings at Lambert Corner were moved to the site of the original Lambert homestead, at the intersection of Routes 7 and 33, over the past 40 years. Most of the buildings are now used as shops and offices. The Wilton Historical Society was a pioneer in what is now called adaptive re-use – historic structures which have been updated for contemporary use. The Society has rescued, in total, 18 buildings typical of a New England rural community on three campuses in Wilton, all visible from Route 7.

The tour will end at noon at the Historical Christmas Barn store, 150 Danbury Road, where cider and cookies will be served. Comfortable walking attire is suggested.

Wilton, Connecticut: Three Centuries of People, Places, and Progress is available for purchase at the Wilton Historical Society's museum shop, the Betts Store.

Please register for this event: by e-mail: info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257 The Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 www.wiltonhistorical.org

Fashion Show at the new Lord & Taylor October 8

If you want to keep up with the current fashion trends, don't miss the Fashion Event on October 8 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Lord & Taylor in Stamford located on 110 High Ridge Road. An added bonus is to get a peak at the final stages of their massive renovation.  

Lord & Taylor has always been about the dress. Recognizing that, this fashion icon is dedicating itself to assembling the best collections of dresses in the world. This  fashion event will highlight dress trends such as this year’s popular lace, shoulder exposure, shine, and velvet styles from Lord & Taylor’s exclusive dress line. 

Hosting this spectacular dress event will be local couture maven and entrepreneur Laura McKittrick of Greenwich Girl Magazine. Greenwich Girl is a dynamic and influential digital resource for all things pertaining to a female’s desired luxury lifestyle, presented with a youthful and sincere flare. Laura formed this stunning fashion forward and visually appealing media outlet five years ago, creating a dialogue among women, entrepreneurs, and influencers within the business, wellness, fashion and home design world.

Shoppers will have an opportunity to meet with Lord & Taylor style experts and explore the perfect dress for everything from day-to-night, formal and cocktail party attire, to job interview apparel, Sunday brunch styles, and more. Accessories, cosmetics, jewelry and intimates will also be featured topics. 25% OFF selected dresses and free basic alterations will also be offered.

Jazz and Chamber Music Concerts @ Westport Arts Center

Continuing Westport's legacy as a performing arts destination, the Westport Arts Center is excited to announce its upcoming Chamber and Jazz Music line-up featuring both internationally renowned talent and local rising performers.

The season will run from through May 2017 with concerts scheduled to take place at the Westport Arts Center and the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, CT.

The Arts Center's Jazz series will begin with a solo performance by Steve Katz, a former member of Blood, Sweat and Tears, on Sunday October 16, 2016 at 3 p.m. The concert will be accompanied by a book signing by Mr. Katz of Is Steve Katz a Rock and Roll Star?

New to the Jazz schedule this year are two Thursday night concerts -- featuring Alta and Matt DeChamplain on November 3 and The Saxtet under the direction of Darren Litzie on January 19, 2017 -- a great way to spend the evening after work.

Unique to the Westport Arts Center series, each concert includes commentary by the Arts Center's Performing Arts curators, which will provide an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for the music performers and genres.

Individual concert tickets and season tickets are now available for both the Chamber and Jazz Music series. Season ticket holders enjoy significant benefits. In addition to a cost savings of up to 15%, season ticket holders receive reserved preferred seating at all concerts and an opportunity to engage with the musicians immediately following the concerts. The tickets are transferable. New to 2016-17, each season ticket holder will also receive the benefit of sponsoring two students to also attend a concert.

Tickets can be purchased at www.westportartscenter.org or by calling the Westport Arts Center at 203/222-7070. A limited number of discounted Senior tickets will be available for presale at the Westport Center for Senior Activities, 21 Imperial Avenue, Westport. Corporate sponsorship and group ticket opportunities are also available.

Chamber Music Concert Schedule

Jenny Lin

Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 3 p.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church

Jenny Lin is one of the most respected young pianists today, admired for her adventurous programming and charismatic stage presence.

The Heida Hermanns International Voice Competition (Unitarian Church Westport)

Semi Finals: November 5

Finals: November 6

Now in its 45th year, the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition is a showcase for exceptional musicians from around the world. The Competition is held annually on a rotating basis in voice, strings and piano and is a springboard for the careers of extraordinarily talented musicians. Presented by the Connecticut Alliance for Music.

Pedja

Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 3 p.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church

Hailed by critics as a "thinking" musician with engaging stage presence and a gratifying combination of virtuosity and eloquence, pianist Pedja Muzijevic has defined his career with creative programming, unusual combinations of new and old music, and lasting collaborations with other artists and ensembles.

Horszowski Trio

Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church

Described by The New Yorker as "destined for great things," when the members of the Horszowski Trio - Jesse Mills, Raman Ramakrishnan, and Rieko Aizawa - played together for the first time, they immediately felt the spark of a unique connection.

Jason Vieaux

Sunday, April 7, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, "among the elite of today's classical guitarists" (Gramophone), is the guitarist that goes beyond the classical. NPR describes Vieaux as, "perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation."

Jazz Music Concert Schedule

Steve Katz

Sunday, October 16, 2016, 3 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

A previous member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Katz' performance will feature a solo concert and a book signing for Is Steve Katz a Rock and Roll Star?

Alta and Matt De Champlain

Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

Performing together since they were 15, the DeChamplains focus on Jazz standards. For this special performance, they will perform the music of Jewish composers.

The Saxtet under direction of Darren Litzie

Thursday, January 19, 2017, at 7 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

Pianist, composer and educator Darren Litzie will perform a tribute to Benny Goodman and Stan Getz.

Jazz Jam

Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 3 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

Free-wheeling jam session with community musicians, including Jazz, Blues, and other styles.

Greg Wall

Sunday, March 5, 2017, 3 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center

Rabbi Wall (also known as "the Jazz Rabbi") is a celebrated musician and recording artist who performs a blend of jazz, world, and Jewish music.

The Art of Watchmaking at the American Clock and Watch Museum

The American Clock and Watch Museum located on 100 Maple Street in Bristol is hosting a special lecture on the art of watchmaking on Sunday, October 16 at 5:30 p.m.  Watch expert, David Sokosh the the owner of Brooklyn Watches, a New York based company be the guest lecturer. He builds wrist watches by combining vintage Swiss pocket watch movements from the 1960's and 70's, a variety of dials and contemporary stainless steel wrist watch cases.

Sokosh has always been fascinated by the late nineteenth century, from furniture to printing presses to clocks.  He studied traditional gelatin silver photography at Western Connecticut State University, but his muse led him to explore wet-plate collodion and tintype, techniques used by Matthew Brady during the Civil War.  In the middle of his college career, he took time off to apprentice with a clockmaker, in Bethel, CT, and learned about antique mechanical clocks, which led to an interest in mechanical watches, which led to his creation of Brooklyn Watches, in 2009.

He began selling his watches at the Brooklyn Flea and on the web. To date he has built and sold nearly 500 of these unusual mechanical watches. 

Sokosh will speak about the history of clocks and watches, his interest in vintage technologies, and how he started Brooklyn Watches while disassembling and then re-assembling one of his time pieces.

A reception with light refreshments will be held prior to the program. The event is $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members. To purchase tickets for this special program in advance, please call the museum  860-583-6070 or drop by when the museum is open--seven days a week, from 10-5. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event.

About  The American Clock & Watch Museum 

 The museum houses one of the largest collections of American clocks and watches in the world with approximately 6,000 timepieces in its collection. As visitors travel through the museum’s eight galleries, many timekeeping devices chime and strike upon the hour.  Located in the historic "Federal Hill" district of Bristol, the museum is housed in an 1801 Federal-style home with a sundial garden that is meticulously maintained by the members of the Bristol Garden Club.

The museum is open daily  from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  There is an admission charge. For more information, call 860-583-6070 or go to www.clockandwatchmuseum.org.

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