Get Ready to Blow Out the Candles @ 150 Birthday Bash Cruise July 21

The Seaport Association has organized a "Season of Celebration" commemorating the 150 Anniversary of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. There are many exciting events planned as well as new partnerships formed that ensure the vitality and environmental health of Long Island Sound and another 150 years and more of celebrating Sheffield Island Lighthouse!

One special event planned is the  “150^th Birthday Bash” that is taking place on Saturday, July 21, 2018.  This event is one that fans of Sheffield Island, new and old won't want to miss!  Don't forget your cameras to take photos of this historic event and enter them in our photo contest!

The party begins as you board the CJ Toth and depart from the dock for Sheffield Island. On the way to the island, enjoy unique cocktails and mouthwatering appetizers from the Blind Rhino in Norwalk.  This popular restaurant/sports bar is known for its elevated cuisine and impressive menu items all made in-house using fresh local ingredients by chefs with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. 

Arriving on Sheffield Island there will be more great food and drinks plus a very special birthday cake!   “We need at least 49 people to help us blow out the 150 candles on the cake” noted Linda Cappello, Chairman of the Seaport Association and Trustee.  "The fun doesn't stop there, the New Orleans Beatnicks will entertain our guests with a little bit of funk and soul adding the perfect dash of pizzaz to our "Birthday Bash," Cappello said with a smile. 

The event begins with the ferry departing from the dock on 10 North Water Street at 3:30 p.m., it is best to arrive about a half hour early to make sure you snag the best seat and to facilitate boarding.  The ferry will return to the dock at 6:30 p.m.  The cost of the Birthday Bash Cruise is just $50.  The ferry is limited to 49 guests that will help blow out the candles and celebrate our maritime heritage!  For tickets click here.

Notes on Goodies...
apps on the boat:

tuna tar tar bites - on cucumber or wonton crisps
sweet potato hummus, on pita chips
mozzarella & tomato skewers
Chef Angel's famous bruschetta

apps on the island
guava bbq meatballs
bacon wrapped scallops
chicken satay skewers
buffalo chicken 

stuffed mushrooms

crab cakes

Music Mountain Harlem String Quartet and Swingtime Big Band

Music Mountain, America’s longest running summer chamber music festival, continues its outstanding 89^th season with two returning favorites! Grammy Award-winning Harlem String Quartet performs Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms on Sunday, July 29 (3pm). Swingtime Big Band is back on Saturday, July 28 (6:30pm) to thrill audiences with authentic recreations of the timeless music of the swing era! Concerts are scheduled through September 23.

The superb Harlem Quartet returns for another riveting collaboration with pianist Fei-Fei Dong on Sunday afternoon, to include Beethoven: Piano Quartet #1 in E Flat Major, WoO 36 – a Music Mountain debut! Plus Schubert: String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 29 #1, D.804 “Rosamunde;” and Brahms: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34.

New York-based Harlem Quartet, currently serving a three-year residency at London’s Royal College of Music, has been praised for its “panache” by The New York Times and hailed in the Cincinnati Enquirer for “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent.” Since its public debut at Carnegie Hall in 2006, the quartet has thrilled audiences in 47 states as well as in the U.K., France, Belgium, Brazil, Panama, Canada, Venezuela, and South Africa. Harlem Quartet’s mission is to advance diversity in classical music, engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers. Passion for this work has made the quartet a leading ensemble in both educational and community engagement performances. Harlem Quartet was founded in 2006 by The Sphinx Organization, a national nonprofit dedicated to building diversity in classical music and providing access to music education in under-served communities.

Praised for her “bountiful gifts and passionate immersion into the music she touches” (The Plain Dealer), Chinese pianist Fei-Fei Dong is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and a top finalist at the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She continues to build a reputation for her poetic interpretations, charming audiences with her “passion, piquancy and tenderness” and “winning stage presence” (Dallas Morning News). Her burgeoning career includes a number of prominent concerto engagements, recital performances, and summer festivals. Deeply committed to sharing her joy for music and connecting with communities, Fei-Fei Dong also engages students and community audiences through frequent school and outreach concerts and master classes.

Audience-favorite Swingtime Big Band will bring its joyous music to Falls Village on Saturday evening. Dedicated to the performance of America's greatest popular standards, Swingtime Big Band is a 20-piece authentic swing band comprised of master interpreters of music from the Swing Era (mid-1930's through the early 1950's). Described by the New York Times as “musicians who make the sounds of the pre-rock era rock,” the ensemble specializes in performing original arrangements of Big Band classics from the Great American Songbook, bringing to life both the style and the spirit of this music for 21st-century audiences to experience in living color. Swingtime Big Band features female vocalist Bobbie Ruth and male vocalist Jerry Costanzo. Leading the band is saxophonist and artistic director Steve Shaiman, a passionate advocate of Big Band swing for his entire musical life. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series features pre-concert dinners at the charming Falls Village Inn. Experience a piece of history built over 175 years ago that helped shape the history of Falls Village.

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut, on Music Mountain Road, where a short scenic drive will bring you to Gordon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Music Mountain is supported, in part, by the Connecticut Commission On Culture & Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Chamber music concerts continue with Avalon String Quartet withSoyeon Kate Lee, piano (August 5); Amernet String Quartet with Chauncey Patterson, viola and Ronald Thomas, cello (August 12); St. Petersburg Piano Quartet (August 19); and Cassatt String Quartet with Paul Katz, cello (August 26).

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series continues with Jimmy Greene Quartet (August 4); Galvanized Jazz Band (August 11); Josh Lawrence & Color Theory (August 18); and Amina Figarova Quintet(August 25).

Specially Priced Concerts include Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception on Sunday, September 2. All tickets $75. Special Concert & Wine Reception to Celebrate the Completion of the Beethoven Quartet Cycle on Sunday, September 9. All tickets: $60.

Regularly scheduled Chamber Music Concerts are $35. Twilight Series Concerts are $30. Concert & Dinner Passes are available for all Twilight Series Concerts for $70; includes Pre-Concert Dinner (5pm) at The Falls Village Inn, a Litchfield County landmark - Classic American comfort fare, seasonal - and 6:30pm Twilight Concert at Music Mountain. Dinner reservations must be made no later than the Friday prior to concert date by calling the Music Mountain box office at 860-824-7126.

Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE to ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday evening Twilight Concerts are at 6:30 pm. Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts are at 3 pm. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit musicmountain.org or call (860) 824-7126.

Call for Entries – Seaport Photo Contest Through August 25

Do you know what an award-winning photo looks like for Sheffield Island Lighthouse?  To find out the Seaport Association of Norwalk is calling for entries to the “150 Anniversary Celebration Photo Contest” of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse that is taking place through August 25, 2018.

Get your camera ready.  It doesn’t matter if you are a first time visitor or, one that puts Sheffield Island on your bucket list every summer, the Seaport Association can't wait to see the images that connect people to Sheffield Island's 150-year-old history.

Perhaps it is a moment of family fun on the beach looking for shells with our classic lighthouse in the background or the first time you stepped foot onto Sheffield Island in full pirate garb watching pirates cavort in the shadows cast by our lighthouse.

Maybe your image will be the best view of the lighthouse tower and lantern or one that shows the pier and its natural surroundings that is a testament to why we have treasured this maritime landmark for 150 years and counting.

It could be as simple as capturing the architectural beauty of the stonework of the lighthouse, reflections on water, or a birds-eye view of Norwalk’s coastline.  The choice is yours.

Contest Rules
The rules to enter our contest are simple. The Seaport Association's Photo Contest in celebration of Sheffield Island's 150 Anniversary is open to all photographers, beginners, amateurs, and pros are invited to submit their photos that discover and captivate the ecological beauty and cultural heritage of Sheffield Island on one of our cruises to the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

To Enter follow @Norwalkseaport on Instagram. Tag @Norwalkseaport and use #SILH150.
There is one entry per contestant. The First Place Prize is $250, the Second Place Prize is $100 and the Third Place Prize is $50.

This is your chance to submit your most beautiful and creative photos of the lighthouse. Winners will be announced at the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

KENT SIDEWALK FESTIVAL SLATED FOR AUGUST 3 - 6

The dog days of August? Not in Kent! If your idea of fun is great sales, fabulous food, toe-tapping tunes and jaw-dropping vintage cars, Kent is the place to be the first weekend of August.

Running from Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, August 6 this year, the Festival is free and offers super-sized retail therapy as well as entertainment for the whole family. Special fun for kids will include a "National Clown Day" event on Saturday morning sponsored by the Kent Memorial Library and face painting at the Fife 'n Drum Gift Shop on Saturday (all proceeds benefit Alzheimer's Association's CT Chapter.)

Kent's unique and charming shops offer not-to-be-missed sales that include Heron American Craft Gallery, Rolling River Antiques, Main Street Antiques, Koblenz & Co. Antique & Estate Jewelry, The Covered Wagon Country Store, Bella Jewelers, the Fife 'n Drum Gift Shop, Foreign Cargo, Terston Home Accents & Apparel, Sundog Shoe & Leather and Pantages Gems & Jewelry. NAPA Auto will have some great specials and savings on discontinued tools. The Painted Can will have discounts on Annie Sloan® products and the Chalk Paint® 101 workshop on August 6.

Fabulous food offerings include lunch and dinner specials and discounted prices on margaritas and draft beers at the Fife 'n Drum Restaurant. Stop by 10 AM to 4 PM at Annie Bananie Ice Cream for breakfast sandwiches, burgers, & hot dogs and their Annual "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" on Friday evening. They will also have Sakura Blade and Tool Sharpening at the store each day of the festival from 10 AM to 4 PM.

St. Andrew's Church will once again hold its Annual Tag Sale on Friday and Saturday at the Parish Hall. Early Bird Buying on Friday from 8:30 to 10:00 AM ($10 charge). No admission fee during regular hours on Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM.

Make sure to stop by the Kent Memorial Library for their Annual Book Sale and to purchase raffle tickets for a 1998 Porsche Boxster. The Chess Court will be alive with chess enthusiasts from amateur to experienced levels. Relax and stroll through the KML Gallery to view the exhibit featuring South Kent artist Linda Petrocine. The library also has public bathrooms available during library hours.

Vintage cars parade through town and park on the Kent Green on Saturday August 5 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM during Kent Car Cruise Night. Stop by to check out the cars and enjoy some music and great food.

Other happenings include the Kent Art Association's Annual President's Juried Show, and, on Saturday, right across the street, there will be a showcase of some local race cars and free popcorn & giveaways at NAPA Auto. Complimentary snacks and beverages to all visitors at the W. David Herman Gallery where they can view the work of local artist Steve Balkin.

Kent Yoga & Bodyworks will offer a big savings for first time students on their 9:30 AM yoga class on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th. $10 per class! Annie Bananie Ice Cream will offer Caricatures by Emily, Henna by Elyse, Charms of the Heart (pick a charm, create a bracelet) and Fascia Chocolate's Sweet 'n Salty Tasting.

Check out all the events – and the full array of great activities – as we get closer to the event on www.kentct.com or contact the Kent Chamber of Commerce at 860-592-0061.

Wellness Walks @ Weir Farm National Historic Site

Weir Farm National Historic Site, on 735 Nod Hill Road in Wilton will offer two-hour wellness walks from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the following dates:  July 28, August 18, and September 8.  These walks are open to the public, registration is free, but space is limited to twenty participants, so please call early to secure a spot! To register or for more information, please call 203-834-1896 ext. 28.

Shinrin Yoku Forest Bathing Wellness Walks are part of the park's Healthy Parks Healthy People program, Weir Farm National Historic Site is offering wellness walks, led by Certified Forest Therapy Guide Jennifer Salkin. Shinrin Yoku.

 

These walks are also called Forest Bathing and is a way to experience the natural world with increased attention to one's sense perceptions.  These walks are said to have many benefits including reduction of stress & improvement of immune functioning as well as lowering blood pressure, increasing vigor & improving your mood, increasing the ability to focus, and improving sleep. Join Jennifer for a slow-paced hike and re-connect with nature at Weir Farm National Historic Site!

Ahoy Mateys! The Pirate Adventure on Sheffield Island

Scallywags of all ages can step into a world of swashbuckling rogues, dastardly villains, infamous she-pirates and wicked wenches on July 14 and 15 when purchasing a ferry ride ticket to Sheffield Island for the annual Pirates Weekend hosted by the Seaport Association in Norwalk.

Find your sea legs and hop aboard the C.J. Toth Ferry for a cruise to Sheffield Island. Arriving on the Island, guests will be greeted and entertained by a roving gang of rowdy pirates.  Kids can hunt for treasure on the beach, play games, sing sea chanteys, watch swordplay, listen to tall tales of thrill and danger, and hear colorful stories of pirates near and far.  Who knows what secrets they will reveal!

This is the weekend to experience the freedom of a pirate’s life, and to learn about their lore and history! The pirates that invade Sheffield Island every summer are different.  They enjoy taking a break from their adventures on the seven seas and come to Sheffield Island to have a boatload of fun with those lucky scallywags visiting during the Pirates Weekend.

All pirate fun and games are free with the purchase of a ferry ticket.  The ferry departs the dock at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on both days, Saturday and Sunday.  It is best to arrive 30 minutes before the boat departs the dock that is located on 4 North Water Street in Norwalk in the parking lot of the Maritime Aquarium.  Parking is available at the Maritime Garage.  For tickets https://seaport.org/page-18092

About the Seaport Association
The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had a vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. 

The Norwalk Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue, which strives to increase awareness, appreciation and consideration for our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment and maritime heritage.

New Oyster Exhibit @ Westport Historical Society

Oysters were the quintessential American food – especially in the estuaries and inlets of shoreline Connecticut where they grow in natural abundance.  The Westport Historical Society is celebrating the culture and lore of oystering on Long Island Sound with a month-long exhibit through July 29 entitled Westport Is Your Oyster.

The exhibit offers a glimmer into Westport and Norwalk’s oystering history using original artifacts and objects from the private collections of Ms. Robin Tauck and Mr. Norman Bloom as well as items from our permanent collection.  Ephemera relating to the consumption of oysters round out a display that includes tools of the trade and archival documents.  Oysters have been enjoyed by native people who seared them in hot coals, in a method later adopted by European colonists.  In those days, the oysters pulled from the waters around Westport were as large as dinner plates. 

The Westport Historical Society is located on 25 Avery Place in Westport and is open Tues.-Sat. 10 am - 4 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4 p.m. 

CT's Beardsley Zoo welcomes Eight Spur Thigh Tortoises!

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo welcomes eight spur-thigh tortoises (Geochelone sulcata) who are making the Zoo their home for the summer. The African spur thigh tortoise, also known as the spurred tortoise, is the third largest species of tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise and the Aldabra giant tortoise. It is the largest of all mainland tortoises.

“Summertime is the right time, so it’s a great time to bring such special animals here as our temporary guests,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “Tortoises also love summer heat, and the spur thigh tortoise is particularly well-adapted to hot temperatures. Also there is the educational message that these wonderful animals do not make good pets! Make wise not wild choices!"

“The Zoo will be home to the tortoises until sometime this fall,” added Dancho. “Guests can find them next to the Victorian Greenhouse.” 

African spur thigh tortoises are large, and push and knock over heavy objects with ease. One of their unusual behaviors is that they may ram each other, with males especially ramming females. The force with which one tortoise rams another can be intimidating, given their strength. They are generally slow moving, however, in order to conserve energy. They dig burrows in the ground to take shelter from their harsh, hot habitat, with some tunnel systems extending ten or more feet underground. 

Adult tortoises average 18 inches in shell length and 70-100 pounds in weight. Specimens reaching two to three feet length and more than 150 pounds, however, are not uncommon.

They are able to go weeks without food. In the wild, they mainly eat grasses and leaves of desert scrub. They get the water they need from the plants they eat. African spur thigh tortoises’ conservation status is listed currently as vulnerable, due to habitat loss and over collection for the pet trade. 

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is closer than you think and open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $15.00, children (ages 3 -11) is $12.00, senior admission (62 and older) is just $11.00, and children under 3 years old are free. Zoo members also are admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo:  About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo:

Spend the day a world away! Connecticut's only zoo, celebrating its 96^thanniversary this year, features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Guests won't want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers and tiger cubs, maned wolf family with three pups, Amur leopards, Brazilian ocelot, Mexican wolves, sloths, and Golden Lion tamarins. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, and more. Guests can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful, indoor carousel. For more information, visit beardsleyzoo.com.

Take a Hike with White Memorial Foundation, June 30

Take a hike up Prospect Mountain with White Memorial Foundation June 30 with Lee Swift, Richard Heys, and James Fischer at 10:00 a.m. Hikers should meet at the A. B. Ceder Room at White Memorial Foundation. The hike is free for members of the Foundation and $5 for nonmembers, and registration is required by clicking here. If you have questions or want to register by phone, call 860-567-0857.

Prospect Mountain is a 328-acre preserve, located west of the Borough of Litchfield, and includes most of a locally prominent hill featuring a spectacular viewpoint near its 1350-foot summit, as well as a large pond to the west. It is mostly forested, with several meadows indicating past agricultural uses. The area was subject to significant nickel mining explorations in the 19th century.

Hike this beautiful property which is now owned by the Litchfield Land Trust with former land trust President, Richard Heys, local historian, Lee Swift, and White Memorial's Research Director, James Fischer. The history, geology, and natural beauty of Prospect Mountain will be discussed. Bring sturdy shoes, a hiking pole, and plenty of water.

Five Great Reasons to Take the Morning Yoga Cruise June with the Seaport Association

The 5000-year-old ancient tradition of yoga, originating in India, continues to gain popularity in the U.S.  A study conducted by the Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal found that the number of people doing yoga is up from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36.7 million in 2016 and that 34% or roughly 80 million Americans say that they are somewhat or very likely to practice yoga in the next twelve months.  With this in mind, the Seaport Association of Norwalk has put together the Morning Yoga Cruise to Sheffield Island on June 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

This relaxing excursion begins with an early morning ferry ride to Sheffield Island.  Early morning is one of the most beautiful times of day to be on the water.  Once on the island, there will be a one-hour session with Yoga Instructor, Amanda Boe who has received her YTT certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Boe has also been a student of many yoga teachers from around the globe. "I believe that yoga is a great equalizer, and teaching yoga offers balance in a hectic world."  

Five Reasons to take the Morning Yoga Cruise

1. Get Ready to Unplug.  Turn off your cell phone and get ready to engage your senses to the sounds of the sea.  Practicing yoga on the very private Sheffield Island with no more than 49 other participants is exhilarating.  Here, you will experience the kind of quiet that allows you to listen and become one with the sounds of the island leaving the work a day world far behind.  This is the kind of quiet that expands your senses and allows you to unwind as you breathe deeply, smell the fresh salt air, and listen to the mysteries of the wind.

2. Gain a Sense of Inner Calm. Yoga helps quiet the mind and teaches us how to step back from our churning thoughts and anxieties.  Many people practice yoga to "de-stress," which in turn, reduces its physical effects on the body. Yoga encourages relaxation, which helps lower the level of stress hormones like cortisol.  It is also known that when we are less stressed we sleep better; several studies have shown that yoga improves sleep quality. Lowering stress also lowers blood pressure and slows the heart rate, improves digestion, and boosts the immune system.

3. Improve your Flexibility and General Fitness.   Yoga is a full body workout that improves flexibility, and more importantly, mobility.  Flexibility is what makes it easier to complete everyday movements like kneeling, bending or reaching; certain yoga holds build functional strength where you really need it.  Yoga also increases your mobility by making it easier to accomplish these things. As an added bonus, yoga is exercise and you will burn calories doing it!

4. Learn to Breathe.  Think of breathing as an endless feedback loop.  One of the central purposes of yoga is to bring awareness to the way emotions affect breathing.  When practicing yoga you will learn to breathe differently and how to use this knowledge in everyday situations.  To "take a deep breath" is much more than just a saying, taking a deep breath is sometimes the only thing between you and saying something you will regret.  Among the many health benefits to the heart, brain and immune system, deep breathing keeps the body in its naturally slightly alkalinized state.

5. Connect with yourself.   Yoga is about becoming attuned to our individual self.  The word yoga means "union" and refers to the union of mind, body, and spirit. The beauty of the Sunrise Yoga Cruise is that this time away allows participants to set aside a few hours to rejuvenate and connect or reconnect with their inner thoughts.  The natural beauty of Sheffield Island, the sound of the waves, the chatter of birds, and the sea breeze provide a perfect backdrop to give yourself an hour or so just let yourself go or to sort everything out.

About the Morning Yoga Cruise

The Morning Cruise and YogaSession is for adults only. It is open to all skill levels and to anyone looking to enjoy a serene ferry ride to Sheffield Island followed by an hour of yoga.  Fresh fruit and water will be provided.

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 the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Garage. 

Tickets are $40 ($42.39 with service fee) and may be purchased online by clicking here.