The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum at 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, reopens for its 45th season on April 8 at noon with docent-guided tours and an exciting calendar of events for children and adults.

The Opening will commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial with the unveiling of the exhibition, Mansion Fragments: Innovations in Architecture, Design, and Technology from the Civil War Era, featuring several objects, deemed revolutionary in mid to late 19th century, and drawn from the museum’s permanent collection. LMMM programs are made possible in part by a generous contribution from the Xerox Foundation.

The Mansion’s 40th Anniversary as a National Historic Landmark will be celebrated on April 8 with an evening reception for members and guests, 7-9 p.m. “To be designated a National Historic Landmark implies exceptional value of the site to the nation,” said Sheldon R. Gerarden, LMMM President and Executive Director. “At this time we celebrate this treasure of excellence with 40 years of outstanding stewardship and enthusiastic visitor experience.” The cocktail reception will be catered by Bull’s Head Market.

Throughout the season, a team of knowledgeable guides will introduce children and adults to the Mansion’s grand-scale design and Civil War era technology. Viewed as America’s first castle, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion is known around the world as one the finest examples of Gilded Age architecture. Built as a summer residence by railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood, a treasurer of the New York Stock Exchange and renowned art collector, the mansion was later inhabited by the Mathews. This well-to-do New York dynasty took full-time residence in the 30-acre Norwalk estate from the late 19th century through the Great Depression.

“The opening this year will commemorate the Civil War, a pivotal period in American history, as well as celebrate the Mansion’s 40th anniversary as a National Historic Landmark,” said Patsy Brescia, LMMM Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “We look forward to seeing the entire Fairfield County community take part in this momentous occasion.”

During the season, full tours at the mansion are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children and young adults ages 8-18. Children under 8 are admitted free of charge. Tour hours are 12- 4 p.m., Weds-Sun. Tours are on the hour, and the last tour is at 3 pm. For information on educational programs, events and rentals, call 203-838-9799 or e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com

Spring Events at The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

Mansion Fragments: Innovations in Architecture, Design, and Technology from the Civil War Era. April 8, 2011, 12-4 p.m.With Tour Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children 8-18. Stacey Danielson, Curatorial Consultant. During the Civil War, the Mansion was being built with the most advanced construction methods and manufacturing techniques of the day including cutting edge technology such as gas lighting, indoor plumbing with running hot and cold water, a ventilation system, and an early burglar alarm system, among others. Most of the objects and architectural elements that will be part of this exhibit have never been seen by the public and will be shown for the first time when the museum reopens for the season.

Europe vs USA Oil Paintings by Artist Carlos Rios – April 8-May 5. Free admission after opening day. This is the fourth year of rotating art exhibits in the Billiards’ Room of the Mansion. Carlos Rios opens the season with Europe vs USA, an exhibition of oil paintings depicting his extensive travels both here and abroad. Born in Colombia, South America, Carlos Rios studied at Academia Superior de Arte and Bellas Artes. Following his immigration to the United States in 1965, he continued his studies at the Paier College of Art in Connecticut. Rios’ talent was quickly recognized by members of the United States art community. Since his arrival in the United States nearly thirty years ago, he has won numerous awards, held solo exhibitions throughout the U.S., and his original paintings and prints now hang in galleries and private collections worldwide. Rios works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel; his style and taste is eclectic, ranging from impressionistic to contemporary often with a focus on landscapes and outdoor scenes. He also demonstrates talents as a photographer and is recognized as an expert in frame design. His work was featured in such films as The Terminator, Blind Justice and on television’s hit series Growing Pains.

Library Restoration and Herter Brothers Furniture Arrival – The Mansion’s Victorian era splendor and the completion of the Library and Music Room furniture restoration will be celebrated on April 8 in conjunction with the Mansion’s 40th Anniversary as a National Historic Landmark. Small pieces of the original 1867 embossed, engraved and printed wall covering by Paul Balin, Paris, which was almost entirely destroyed by water damage in the 50s, were used to reproduce the wallpaper. Its creation and installation was made possible by a generous contribution from the Meloy Foundation.

Music Room- A suite of newly restored rosewood seating furniture by the Herter Brothers, c.1868, will be exhibited in the Music Room. The restoration was made possible by a generous contribution from the Valle Weber Fay Memorial Fund. Tom Frank, of the Baggot-Frank-Lockwood Conservation Studios, Narragansett, RI donated his time and expertise in the rehabilitation of the inlaid and carved rosewood chair frames while Paul Hazlett III Upholstery, restored the original tufting and re-covered them in muslin and lavender satin fabric.

Lecture Series – Wednesday, April 13, 11 a.m.

The Greatest Crisis in United States History: The Causes, Course, and Consequences of the Civil War. A lecture by Steven S. Berizzi. Admission: $20 for members – $25 non-members. Lunch and a tour of the first floor of the Mansion is included.This talk will provide a brief and highly selective overview of the Civil War era from the “causation sequence” of the 1850s to the controversial post-war period known as Reconstruction, when the nation struggled to transform Lincoln’s promise of a “new birth of freedom” into reality. He will examine Abraham Lincoln’s election to the presidency in 1860, the secession winter of 1860-1861, the outbreak of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, and the Union’s triumph, which was marred by the assassination of President Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

Annual Victorian Tea – May 1, 2011 – 2 p.m. The Duchess of Bedford’s teatime tradition continues at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum where guests will enjoy a quintessentially English tea fare featuring three types of sandwiches and delectable desserts including chocolate toffee trifle, as featured in Bon Appetit Magazine, assorted cookies, carrot and coconut tea cakes, and more. Music, a raffle, a hat contest, and additional entertainment will be part of this festive fundraiser catered by tea ceremony expert to the stars, Carol Timpanelli.

To enhance Patron’s Theater experience the Westport Country Playhouse has announced its restaurant partners for the 2011 season, playing April 26 through November 5. Playhouse subscribers will receive discounts, many up to 20%, at partner restaurants upon presenting a ticket or stub on the day of their ticketed performance.

The Playhouse’s restaurant partnership program is designed to heighten its patrons’ overall theater experience and to support local businesses.

“The Playhouse is so pleased to partner with many great restaurants here in town,” said Jenn Bond Huisking, Playhouse community relations liaison. “These partnerships make many special events on our campus possible while enhancing the total experience of attending a live theater performance at the Playhouse. We too hope our patrons are introduced to all of the amazing culinary experiences available right here in Westport.”

2011 restaurant partners, all located in Westport, are: Dressing Room: A Homegrown Restaurant; La Villa Trattoria; Manolo; Matsu Sushi; Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Kitchen and Bar; Tavern on Main; and Thali.

Dressing Room: A Homegrown Restaurant, located on the Playhouse grounds, is a collaboration of Chef Michel Nischan and the late actor/philanthropist Paul Newman. The menu reflects the seasons, pulls from Connecticut’s local resources, and consists of generational recipes that exude “home grown” flavor. 27 Powers Court, Westport, (203) 226-1114. http://www.dressingroomhomegrown.com.

La Villa Trattoria, featuring Chef Michael Sornatale, offers regional Italian cuisine including free- range and organic ingredients, innovative pasta dishes, steak and chops, fresh seafood and house-made desserts. 3 Bay Street, Westport, (203) 557-4810. http://www.lavillawestport.com

Manolo is inspired by Chef / Restaurateur Pedro Garzon’s travels throughout Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. Manolo offers tapas style dining, innovative entrees and a menu changing daily. 8 Church Lane, Westport, (203) 227-0703. http://www.cafemanolo.com

Matsu Sushi’s Chef / Sushi Master Michael Cao prepares hand-formed, pressed and rolled sushi, and seasonal sashimi along with traditional Japanese specialties as well as Sukiyaki noodles, dumplings and satays. 33 Jesup Road Westport, (203) 341-9662. http://www.matsusushi.net

Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Kitchen and Bar features Italian cuisine, including house-made pasta, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and artisan bread, antipasti, free-range chicken, market fresh fish and top grade meat. 540 Riverside Avenue, Westport, (203) 221-1002. http://www.rizzutos.com

Tavern on Main, a New England style restaurant and gathering place, offers a globally inspired menu that is strongly influenced by the seasons. Outdoor dining on the covered patio overlooks Main Street. 146 Main Street, Westport, (203) 221-7222. http://www.tavernonmain.com

Thali Westport’s Executive Chef Prasad Chirnomula brings his brand of regional Indian cuisine with his unique tapas-style menu, offering small plates of the flavors of India. 376 Post Road East, Westport, (203) 557-4848.

Restaurant partner logos are displayed in Playhouse promotional materials, including looping lobby DVD, season playbills, subscriber handbook, pre-season patron e-blast and website with link to restaurant homepage. Additional benefits for partner restaurants are complimentary tickets.

Visit http://www.westportplayhouse.org for full restaurant descriptions, discounts and restrictions.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available 24/7 at http://www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse); view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) and get an insider’s peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).

Western CT Blog

via Western CT Blog: Looking For Spring in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County!.

This Saturday take a tour of the Sharon Audubon Center’s Sugarhouse to see how maple syrup is produced fresh at the Audubon Center. In the sugarhouse, a favorite stop along the tour, the sweet aroma of boiling sap and syrup will fill the air as samples of fresh syrup are handed out to guests to taste. Tours go out continuously throughout the day so there is no need to pre-register. Tours are scheduled between 10:00am and 4:00pm $5.00 adults, $3.00 children.

While you are at the center, don’t miss the Raptor Aviaries. Here you will find 22 Birds of Prey (16 different species) that have been determined non-releasable, meaning that they would not be able to survive on their own in the wild. The majority of these beautiful birds are housed in large outside, predator-proof aviaries that are filled with natural vegetation and various perching options. Birds that you will see at the Audubon include: bald eagle, merlin, several types of owls, hawks and vultures, a peregrine falcon, an American Kestrel, dove and raven.

Audubon Sharon, consists of the Sharon Audubon Center and Emily Winthrop MilesWildlife Sanctuary, and is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. The Sharon Audubon Center has over eleven miles of scenic hiking trails, and includes 1,147 acres of mixed forest, meadows, wetlands, ponds and streams.The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the Earth’s biological diversity and humanity.

The Sharon Audubon Center strives to meet this mission through education, conservation and environmental research to encourage the responsible usage and stewardship of natural lands.The Sharon Audubon Center offers educational programs for all ages, a seasonal newsletter, nature programs, wildlife rehabilitation, research, live animal exhibits, a children’s adventure center, a nature store, and a natural history library.

The Silvermine School of Art located in New Canaan in partnership with the Aldrich Museum, will be participating in the annual community event, Draw On! On Saturday, March 26th from 9am until 6pm, the School of Art will conduct DRAW UNTIL YOU DROP!

This one day event is open to the public and provides an opportunity for continuous, intensive figure drawing with a model, or models, in sustained poses. Participants of all skill levels, ages 16 and up, will be able to work alongside Silvermine faculty, Guild Artists members and students to develop their artistic vision, sharpen skills and energize studio experience through drawing.

Using all the studios in the School of Art, participants will have the opportunity to work with female and male models in a range of different poses, from short and athletic, to extended poses, as well as portrait study. Participants who would like to work with still life set ups will also have a variety to choose from.

The fee for the day is $30 and half day is $15. Registration can be made in advance or you can register the day of the event. Tables, easels, drawing horses, drawing boards and basic drawing supplies will be available. For more information call 203-966-6668 ext. 2 or visit our website at http://www.silvermineart.org.

The Silvermine Galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday, 12p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1pm to 5 p.m. For more information, call (203) 966-9700

On Saturday, March 19 from 11:00 am – 2:30 pm sweet things are happenning at the New Canaan Nature Center located on 144 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. This annual event celebrates the New England tradition of maple syrup making and includes a pancake brunch with different varieties of syrup, including the Nature Center’s own special syrup.

Nature Center educators and local families who have “adopted” a tree for the season have been collecting sap from about 40 of the center’s maples over the last month. How does it work? Freezing temperatures create suction that draws water in through a tree’s roots, and warm periods create pressure which causes the sap to flow out through a tap hole where it’s collected in buckets. This sap, a combination of water, salt and sugar, serves as the tree’s food and is the sole ingredient of pure maple syrup. During Syrup Saturday, visitors will get a chance to observe the entire process from tree tapping to boiling into syrup at the “sugar shack”. Educators will also demonstrate historic methods of maple syruping.

Local maple syrup and maple baked goods will be for sale. Supplies and information from Tap My Trees will also be available to purchase for families who want to tap their own maple trees at home and make their own maple syrup.

A special activity also being offered is a hike along “Maple Lane” with one of the Center’s naturalists to learn how to identify sugar maples and other trees while hunting for signs of spring. Attendees are welcome to gather around and warm up by the campfire and kids are encouraged to make a maple-themed craft to take home as a rememberance of this sweet time of year. This event is primarily held outdoors and activities will be ongoing throughout the day.

For additional information call (203) 966-9577 x20 to register in advance for this popular event. Members: $8/person / Non-Members: $12/person. Children under age 3 are free.

The Institute for American Indian Studies will present its Annual Maple Sugaring Festival on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. What makes this Festival unique is Jim Dina who will present a full Native American Sugar-making demonstration in the Institute’s outdoor Algonkian Village.

Inside the Museum and Institute, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, staff members will serve pancakes with delicious local maple syrup. Fun activities for the children will run from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.

The Native American lore of sweet maple syrup is fascinating. The Mohegans believed that the melting snow caused the spring sap to run in the maples. They considered the sap to be the dripping oil of the Great Celestial Bear, who had been wounded by the winter sky hunters – according to their own Pleiades story. The bear, sometimes becoming the celestial bear and embodying the Big Dipper, repeats itself through many Indian origin stories.

Native People discovered in their woodlands the sources of seasoning and sweetening medicines and foods. Long before recorded history, their investigations unlocked the secrets of extracting many dietary substances from their natural environments. Lost in pre-history are the earliest experiences that led to “sugaring”.

It was usual for whole families to participate in the labor of sugaring, although in some tribes the women went first to the maple forests to make any necessary repairs to the camp and sugaring utensils. Among the Iroquois and the Ojibwa Indians, the women owned the maple groves, which they inherited through their maternal line. Seensibaukwut is the Ojibwa word for maple sugar, which means, “drawn from the wood.”

Tree sap is essentially water absorbed by the roots and mixed with some of the stored tree sugars. Sap will begin to run upwards from the roots on warm late-winter days followed by freezing nights. These conditions usually begin in late February in southern New England.

Once the sap had been collected, it needed to be boiled down (reduced). The sap was then put into a hollowed out log where fiery hot stones were placed into it. The purpose of the hot stones was to cause the sap to boil. This may have needed to be done several times to obtain the correct consistency.
This was the traditional “Native” way.

Please call for tickets 860-868-0518. Advance tickets $8 Adults/ $6 Children; Tickets at the door $10 Adults/ $8 Children.

Join the fun as this family favorite returns to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center (39 Scofieldtown Road) on Sunday, March 6, from 11 am – 3 pm! Adults and kids will delight in a visit to the little red sugarhouse at the Center’s Heckscher Farm. Here live demonstrations will show visitors how sap is turned into sweet maple syrup. The event admission which includes parking is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

This event offers a multitude of activities sure to please everyone in the family! See how trees are tapped and sap is collected, make a maple-themed craft, enjoy the popular pancake brunch, go on a scavenger hunt, get your face painted and more. A special treat is to watch local chefs create delicious dishes using maple syrup in a winner-takes-all maple cook-off!

Additionally, people can help support the Maple Sugar Education Program at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center with their Sponsor-A-Bucket program! Your support will be acknowledged with a personalized name tag that will hang on your personal sap bucket throughout the season…with a “sweet” end result! At the end of the season each Sponsor will receive a pint of SM&NC’s very own pure Connecticut Maple Syrup. Each sponsorship opportunity is $50. To sponsor a bucket, call Carol at 203.322.1646 ext. 6548 or order online at http://www.stamfordmuseum.org.

For more information, call 203.977.6521, or visit http://www.stamfordmuseum.org.