Monthly Archives: January 2012

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Beardsley Zoo to Host Asian New Year Celebration !

Asian New Year at Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo!

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, the state’s only zoo, invites families to celebrate Asian New Year on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from Noon to 3:00 p.m. The Dragon is one of the most revered years of the Chinese New Year calendar, and those born under the sign are regarded as innovative, passionate people who are colorful, confident and fearless. The Dragon is anything but a formidable foe in Chinese culture. Unlike the demon that gets slayed in Western literature, the Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and intense power in Eastern culture. In Chinese tradition, the Dragon is regarded as a divine beast.

At the Beardsley Zoo Year of the Dragon festivities will feature activities for the entire family including a special children’s parade around the Zoo grounds, story time, crafts, and many more fun activities. Don’t miss a visit to the colorful indoor Carousel. Here you will meet some of the Zoo’s special lizard guests and be invited to partake in the festivities. A special “Zoo” highlight is the return of Viktor, an Amur (Siberian) tiger whose pale, yellow-orange fur with his pale blackish stripes and distinctive face will delight young and old alike. Viktor was one of three cubs born in 2004 at the Zoo. He was transferred to the Detroit Zoo in 2008, but is back in Connecticut to greet his fans.

The snow date for this event is February 11.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo celebrates its 90th birthday in 2012 and is closer than you think! Connecticut’s only zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won’t want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers, Brazilian ocelots, Red wolves, 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. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org.

Area Information
For information on all there is to see and do in Fairfield County visitfairfieldcountyct.com

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emancipation

Fairfield Museum and History Center will continue its promotion of a ticket stub discount from the new movie, “Lincoln” for reduced admission to its exhibition, Promise of Freedom: The Emancipation Proclamation through the engagement of the film. Visitors, who present a ticket stub, will receive $2 off of an adult admission to the exhibition, which runs through February 24th, 2013. The Museum is located on 370 Beach Road in Fairfield and is open Mon–Fri: 10am – 4pm and Sat–Sunday: 12 noon – 4pm or visit www.fairfieldhistory.org. For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

The Fairfield Museum planned this exhibit as the ideal educational component for Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking movie, “Lincoln”, which focuses on the war-weary president’s strategic journey from what he knew to be the “Band-Aid” fix of the Emancipation Proclamation January 1st, 1863 (150 years ago) to the final passage of the 13th amendment, which promised to abolish slavery.

The actual 13th amendment still left room for slavery to be applied as punishment for anyone who commits a crime. Nevertheless, the Proclamation and the Amendment, which are on display at the Fairfield Museum through February 24th, 2013, marked the journey towards ending slavery in America.

Promise of Freedom includes not only a rare signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation but also an even more rare-signed copy of the Thirteenth Amendment, signed by Lincoln and by almost all the members of the House and Senate who voted for it. Both documents are on loan to the museum from a private collection. The Thirteenth Amendment, which was not fully ratified by the states until well after Lincoln’s assassination, provided a stronger foundation for the elimination of slavery than did Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which rested on his wartime authority as commander-in-chief.

Today, there are very few copies of the 13th amendment bearing Lincoln’s signature, like the rare one the Fairfield Museum has in the exhibit. The reason for this is that after Lincoln signed a several souvenir copies, the Senate passed a resolution stating that signing souvenirs was unseemly, so he stopped. Ironically, at the beginning of the Civil War, there was a completely different 13th amendment proposed, which would have protected slavery. Lincoln did not always support this amendment and had to be convinced by abolitionists and women’s rights activists that an amendment abolishing slavery was important.

ABOUT THE FAIRFIELD MUSEUM

The Fairfield Museum creates experiences that make history personal, engaging and meaningful and in so doing strengthen people’s connection to the world around them. The Museum’s collection and archive is one of the most important humanities resources in southwestern Connecticut and a valuable resource for teaching history and related disciplines. Museum exhibitions attract more than 18,000 visitors annually from New York to New Haven, and our educational programs annually serve more than 5,000 students from southwestern Connecticut. We are committed to providing educational experiences, particularly to lower income constituencies that allow all students the opportunity to participate.

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Get Funky at Stage One Jan. 27!

The Fairfield Theater Company has featured more funk bands recently and is proud to present a new, young band on the rise. The buzz-worthy Brooklyn-based nine-piece powerhouse Sister Sparrow delivers a refreshingly cool blend of gut-busting soul, horns, earthy rock, and new school funk.

The band is led by singer Arleigh Kincheloe who is backed up by her brother Jackson on harmonica, Bram Kincheloe on drums, Aidan Carroll on bass, Sasha Brown on guitar, Ryan Snow on trombone, JJ Byars on alto saxophone, Johnny Butler on baritone saxophone, and Phil Rodriguez on trumpet. While Kincheloe is the main lyricist, the entire ensemble works together to produce the the musical arrangements.

As the New York Daily News puts it “Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds has been tearing up local clubs since 2008 with its rollicking blend of soul, funk and backwoods Americana rock ’n’ roll, which draws even indifferent hipsters onto the dance floor. The pint-sized singer packs a voice that shakes the rafters, while her brother shreds the harmonica — which they’ve dubbed “the Mississippi saxophone.”

If you’re down with a solid group of talented young artists reviving one of the most timeless musical genres, inspired by Parliament Funkadelic, James Brown, The Meters, Deep Banana Blackout and Phish, Sister Sparrow is the show to see. One Facebook fan describes them as “a cross between Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner with Mick Jagger and a dose of the Squirrel Nut Zippers?”

Glide Magazine gushes, “The lead off track “Untie my Shoelaces” carries a swank strut and smooth guitar swing from Sasha Brown. Kincheloe’s voice immediately jumps out front with a sexy, smoky vibe that belies her young age and will bring the boys up front all night long. Horn accents provide faultless fits and starts of melody both propelling the music forward and offering precise counterpoint to the bass and vocals. When backup vocals swerve in at the end, the bootays will shake and the lips will smile. This is just fun.”

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds

Date: Friday, Jan. 27
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 7:30 PM
Venue: StageOne 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, CT 06824
Tickets: $12 Buy tickets: Box Office: 203.259.1036 or buy online: www.fairfieldtheatre.org

FTC on the Horizon: Upcoming Shows to Watch Out For

Thu., Jan. 26 @ StageOne: The Malone Brothers – A collaboration of artists from The Radiators and The Subdudes
Sat., Jan. 28 @ StageOne: The English Beat – Punk reggae/ska masters
Sat., Feb. 4 @ StageOne: Christopher Robin Band – Fairfield’s southern rocker with tales of pain, love and truth

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Winter Carnival Hi-Jinks in Salisbury CT Jan. 28 and 29

Salisbury CT Ski Fest!


A new Winter Carnival Weekend January 28th and 29th will be a festive prelude to the annual Jumpfest Ski Jumping Championships in Salisbury, the town in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills that has been a mecca for ski jumping for nearly a century.

The Carnival Weekend highlight will be a wacky Gelande Jumping Exhibition, from 5 pm – 7 pm on Jan. 28th and from 11 am – 2 pm on Sun., Jan. 29. This event, also known as “Alpine Skiing” is where skiers burdened with downhill equipment try to emulate the ski jumpers who will soon be showing for real what it takes to excel at this challenging sport.

Another new event debuting during Winter Carnival will be the Human Dogsled Race that will feature five people pulling a sixth on a sled over a .5 k course. The race will be held around 2 pm on Sunday after the Gelande Jumping event ends. In addition, activities for youngsters such as ice carving and the Children’s Ski Jumping Meet from 1pm – 3 pm have been planned.

Admission to all events is $10 for adults, children 12 years old and under free. For happy viewing, the Association recommends that spectators dress warmly in lots of layers. Satre Hill is on Indian Cave Road, off Route 44 in Salisbury. Signs in the center of Salisbury point the way to ample free parking. For up to the minute information, please visit:
http://www.jumpfest.org
. For dining and lodging information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

About SWSA
A Salisbury Connecticut tradition for 80 years, this all-volunteer organization has fostered the exhilarating sport of ski jumping among all ages and generations. SWSA continues to improve its snowmaking capabilities, ensuring that the Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships will remain an annual event in Salisbury, CT.

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Charlie Hewitt Cut & Printed at the Center for Contemporary Crafts Jan 22- March 12

Charlie Hewitt Woodcut

The Center for Contemporary Crafts in Norwalk CT has announced a new exhibit that will be on view from January 22 to March 12, 2012. The name of the exhibit is Charlie Hewitt: Cut and Printed, Recent Color Woodcuts. The opening reception is on Sunday, January 22 from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Charlie Hewitt is a printmaker, painter and sculptor, who has taught extensively since 1986 at schools including Dartmouth College and Fordham University. He has had many solo exhibitions and has his work in major private and public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum, the New York Public Library, The Library of Congress and the Portland Museum of Art.

In addition to the exhibition, Charlie Hewitt will be leading a workshop, “Wet-On Wet Woodcut Intensive”, with Master Printer David Wolfe from February 17th – 19th at the studios located at the Center for Contemporary Crafts. They will co-teach this workshop in multi-colored woodcut and relief printing methods. Students cut and print using a wet-on-wet ink process that produces a spontaneous, immediate print. The workshop concentrates on creating unique print variations by working with a variety of cutting and inking techniques. Participants need to bring their own tools if they have them. Tools will also be available for those that do not own them. To register please visit the website at www.contemprints.org, or call 203-899-7999.

Mezzotint

Two additional workshops are offered in January. Mezzotint with Carol Wax is offered from Jan. 27 through Jan. 29 from 10 AM – 4 PM. This worshop features direct, non-toxic engraving with the resulting luminous prints with rich tones and dramatic lighting effects. Participants will learn the most efficient way to prepare a mezzotint ground, proper care and handling of tools, image making and printing techniques, alternative grounding methods (no rocking!), use of mezzotint with other intaglio techniques, color printing, registration methods, cool tricks and more.

Carborundum Aquatint

There is also a 6-week evening workshop on Carborundum aquatint that takes place on Wednesdays, from January 18 through February 21. The workshop includes 6 hours of studio time per week, during the workshop session.

Carborundum aquatint is a painterly intaglio technique in which the artist paints directly on a Plexiglas plate with a mixture of carborundum grit and acrylic medium. When dry, the plate is inked and wiped as an etching. Using a variety of sizes of grit, a printmaker can achieve a wide range of tones. Participants will also explore multiple plate registration methods and printing in color.

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is located in Mathews Park, 299 West Avenue Norwalk, CT 06850 203.899.799. The website is www.contemprints.org.

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OLD-FASHIONED BOOK BROWSING IS FAVORITE WINTER SPORT IN WESTERN CONNECTICUT

Hickory Stick Book Shop


When the weather outside is frightful, indoor browsing is delightful in the inviting independent bookstores that are still alive and well in Connecticut’s Fairfield County and Litchfield Hills.

Personal and comfortable shops like these are an endangered species in the wake of giant stores and on-line shopping, yet these very special spots continue to survive and thrive, providing the kind of experience book lovers crave. Browsers will find a warm welcome, staffs that know books and owners who are often around to chat and recommend. Best sellers are on view, but so are treasures selected by knowledgeable owners, titles that might have escaped notice in a superstore. While they are old-fashioned in many ways, these stores do keep up with the times and offer a full array of e-books.

A bookstore tour makes for a wonderful afternoon, plus a stack of reading pleasure to take home. Along with books, visitors will be discovering charming towns with other unique shops. Bring the kids along—they will make discoveries, too.

Litchfield Hills

The Hickory Stick Book Shop in Washington Depot is exactly the kind of shop book lovers appreciate. A community fixture for over 60 years, the store has owners and staff with over 100 years (collectively) in the book business. They are ready to help answer questions, find a particular title or suggest something unexpected. Like many of these independent bookstores, the Hickory Stick promotes “indie next” choices culled from many independent booksellers, aimed at adults as well as children and reading groups.

In historic quarters on a street lined with intriguing shops, Kent’s House of Books features quality literature and a vault filled with children’s books. Befitting a town on the Appalachian Trail, they carry a good stock of maps; trail guides and books on the out-of-doors. Bank Street Book Nook in New Milford is another small gem; full of finds and with a train set to keep kids happy while parents shop.

Fairfield County

Barrett Bookstore

The Barnett Book Store has had many reincarnations since it opened for business in Stamford in 1939. The attractive present location in the Noroton Heights section of Darien stocks all manner of interesting books, fiction and non-fiction, and excellent children’s books, as well. Books on the Common in Ridgefield is another survivor. A fixture since 1984 in various locations, the store was reborn in 2009 in a 100-year old building right on the town’s charming Main Street, maintaining the atmosphere and interesting stock that has kept customers loyal since the start. Elm Street Books in New Canaan is another example of the kind of store avid readers crave, small, personal and packed with treasures. The store features many readings and autograph sessions with authors.

One of the most unusual stores is Diane’s Books in Greenwich. When Diane Garrett opened 1990, some said she was crazy, given the negative trends and competition. But Garrett proved them wrong with her concept, a “family bookstore ” where she knows her customers and serves them from childhood to adulthood. All ages enjoy the informal atmosphere of the store where stacks of books are piled on shelves, tables and the floor and notes and signatures from authors cover the walls.

Old and rare

Johnnycake Books

Western Connecticut also has treasure troves for those who love the finds hiding among stacks of used books, and collectors will find prizes among the region’s rare book dealers. At the Tattered Pages Book Shop in Monroe in Fairfield County, two big floors are chock-a-block with used books, some 30,000 of them. A 1783 schoolhouse in Litchfield County is home to Lavender Path Antiques and Books in Harwinton, another large dealer with a stock of 20,000 used and out-of-print titles. Litchfield Hills offerings for collectors includes Barbara Farnsworth Booksellers in West Cornwall that offers more than 45,000 books with large selections in a wide variety of categories and Salisbury’s Johnnycake Books that sells rare and collectible titles in appropriately vintage quarters a nineteenth century cottage.

Lavender Path Antiques and Books

For more information on area shops and free color guides to nearby attractions, lodging and dining in the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

Information:

Bank Street Book Nook, 50 Bank Street, New Milford, 860-354-3865, www.bankstbooknook.com

Barbara Farnsworth Bookseller, 407 Route 128, West Cornwall, 860-672-6571, www.farnsworthbooks.com

Barrett Bookstore, 314 Heights Road, Darien, 203-655-2712, www.barrettbookstore.com

Books on the Common, 404 Main Street, Ridgefield, 203-431-9100, www.booksonthecommon.com

Diane’s Books, 8 Grigg Street, #A, Greenwich, 203-869-1515, www.dianesbooks.com

Elm Street Books, 35 Elm Street, New Canaan, 203-966-4545, www.elmstreetbooks.com

Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Greenhill Road, Washington Depot, 860-868-0525, www.hickorystickbookshop.com

House of Books, 10 North Main Street, Kent, 860-927-4104, www.hobooks.com

Johnnycake Books, 12 Academy Street, Salisbury, 860-435-6677, www.johnnycakebooks.com

Lavender Path Antiques and Books, 50 South Street, Harwinton, 860-689-8081,www.lavenderpathantiques.com

Tattered Pages Book Shop, 150 Main Street, Monroe, 203-261-6755, www.tatteredpagesbookshop.com.

For more information on area shops and free color guides to nearby attractions, lodging and dining in the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, http://www.visitwesternct.com.

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Quassy’s New Roller Coaster Named Attraction Of The Year

"Wooden Warrior" Roller Coaster, Middlebury, CT

Quassy Amusement Park’s “Wooden Warrior” roller coaster has been named Attraction of the Year in a poll conducted by the theme park enthusiasts’ Web site Behind The Thrills.In making the announcement today, Racheal and Erik Yates, who operate the popular site, said the “Wooden Warrior” has been a huge success for Quassy, a small family-owned park in Middlebury, Conn.

“We’re absolutely delighted by the news,” said Quassy President Eric Anderson. “We were up against some other fantastic attractions from throughout the world.”

Attraction of the Year was a new category added to a list of 10 awards presented by Behind The Thrills. Nominations for this distinguished award were submitted by readers.

“We received over a hundred different attractions (nominations) from parks all over the world,” the Yates said in announcing the honors. “Not all of the attractions were new. In fact, a lot of the new attractions barely made our top 30 to be placed on the ballot.”

Roller coasters, dark rides and some classic attractions at large theme parks were among the nominations.

The Yates went on to say: “The little roller coaster (“Wooden Warrior”) stood up against an army of bigger, meaner, more technologically advanced rides and came out victorious!”

Quassy’s new coaster captured 35 percent of the vote with * “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” TM, at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, coming in second with 12 percent of the tally. “The Voyage” roller coaster at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind., placed third in the voting.

The “Wooden Warrior” has received praise from coaster and theme park enthusiasts since opening last April.

“The ride speaks for itself,” noted George Frantzis, a Quassy owner. “It’s a small ride that offers a fantastic experience for its size. We’ve been told that time and again by our guests and coaster experts who have traveled great distances to ride it.”

The 1,250-foot ride was designed by The Gravity Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the first “junior coaster” in the firm’s portfolio. In addition, Quassy selected The Gravity Group’s sister firm, Gravitykraft, to provide its state-of-the-art Timberliner train for the ride. The “Wooden Warrior” is the first new coaster in the United States to feature the sleek train.

“The resulting ride is fast, smooth and a lot of punch for a little coaster,” the Yates said in their award statement.

Quassy Amusement Park will open its 104th season on April 28. For more information visit www.quassy.com.

Also, visit these related Web sites: www.behindthethrills.com and www.thegravitygroup.com.

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Start the New Year at Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theatre!

What better way to begin the New Year than with the wildly popular comedy, Defending the Caveman written by Rob Becker? The place to be in the New Year is Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theatre where audiences will have every reason to laugh at themselves about all the different ways men and women fight, laugh and love. Couples throughout America and around the world are enamored of Caveman, described as an hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate and always has both sexes roaring with laughter and recognition as well as serving as a peacemaker in the ongoing misunderstandings between men and women.

Defending the Caveman is scheduled: Friday, January 13 at 7:30pm; Saturday, January 14 at 5pm and 8pm; Sunday, January 15 at 5pm.; Friday, January 20 at 7:30pm; Saturday, January 21 at 5pm and 8pmand Sunday, January 22 at 5pm at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre located at 263 Golden Hill Street in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut.


Defending the Caveman” has been performed in 45 countries and translated into 18 languages making it popular with audiences around the globe! It has won the hearts of millions and has become a peacemaker in the ongoing misunderstandings between men and women. It originally opened in San Francisco and soon moved across the country as an unqualified hit. Caveman entered the record books as the longest running solo play in Broadway history.

The Downtown Cabaret Theatre is located at 263 Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Reserved tickets for performances: $19 – $39 Tickets can be reserved: By Phone: Box Office: 203.576.1636 In Person: at box office located 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut Online at downtowncabaret.org (24/7) By US Mail: Defending the Caveman, c/o Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, Ct. 06604. Box Office Hours: 11am to 5pm – Tuesdays thru Fridays. Box Office open 90 minutes prior to performance times. Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays, closed.
The Downtown Cabaret has a busy winter season planned. Future performances planned include: The Amazing Kreskinon Feb. 18-19; SCARAB – A Tribute to Journey on Feb. 25; Face to Face – A Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John on March 3 and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on March 31.

For more information and up-to-date news about the Cabaret, the performances, the actors, seating chart, parking and reserving tickets visit http://www.downtowncabaret.org

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Weir Was here – Secret Rooms, Doors and Windows Now On Exhibit Through May 31, 2012

Stained Glass Detail Weir House


Weir Farm National Historic Site commissioned New York photographer and former Artist-in-Residence Xiomáro to create a photographic record of the interiors of the Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio. The results of this photo expedition comprises the current show that is on view in the Burlingham House Visitor Center. The Center is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., now through March 31, 2012 and from April 1st through May 31st, from Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All three buildings are currently empty allowing Xiomáro the chance to focus on the details of these spaces — features that might otherwise go unnoticed in a fully furnished setting. This is the first artistic collection of photographs of the building interiors in the site’s history, and captures the beauty and texture of these intimate spaces. “There is a mystery and secrecy to these relatively empty spaces,” Xiomáro explained, noting how “the same eyes and hands that created works of Impressionism also unlocked these doors and opened the shutters to take in the inspiring landscape framed by the windows.”

Weir Studio Door and Window

The selection of the images that comprise the new exhibit titled “Weir Was Here – Secret Rooms, Doors, and Windows”, offers visitors a small glimpse into the historic structures of Weir Farm while they remain closed to the public.

A special highlight of this show will be five gallery talks presented by Xiomáro from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm on January 7, February 5, March 4, April 1 and May 6. There is no fee to participate in the gallery talks, but registration is required. For more information on the exhibit, or to register for one of the gallery talks, please call (203) 834-1896 x12.

Weir House


To learn more about Xiomáro and his photography, visit www.xiomaro.com.

About Weir Farm National Historic Site

Weir Farm National Historic Site was home to three generations of American artists. Julian Alden Weir, a leading figure in American art and the development of American Impressionism, acquired the farm in 1882. After Weir, the artistic legacy was continued by his daughter, painter Dorothy Weir Young and her husband, sculptor Mahonri Young, followed by New England painters Sperry and Doris Andrews. Today, the 60-acre farm, which includes the Weir House, Weir and Young Studios, barns, gardens, and Weir Pond, is one of the nation’s finest remaining landscapes of American art. For more information about Weir Farm National Historic Site, please visit www.nps.gov/wefa or call (203)834-1896.

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Woodbury CT’s New Morning Natural and Organic Store Announces their January Class Schedule

Alison Birks Blending Tea

New Morning Market announces their schedule of free classes for January, to be held at the Woodbury Public Library. Classes support living a natural lifestyle are open to the public, however registration is required due to space limitations. Registration can be done online at www.newmorn.com, by calling Julie at 203-263-0673 ext. 317, or in person by stopping into the store in Woodbury.

On Tuesday January 17, 2012 from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Woodbury Library the focus will be on The Art of Tea Blending and the presenter will be Alison Birks MS, AHG, CNS. This class will cover the basics of how to create a signature tea blend for well-being. Participants will learn about the many varieties of tea, including: green, black, white, rooibos, honeybush, tulsi and several herbal tisanes. Everyone will take home one-ounce of a unique signature blend that they create in class. The many health benefits of tea will be discussed as well as how to use tea and herbal infusions in cooking, body care and more! This class is free. www.newmorn.com

On Tuesday January 24, 2012 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Woodbury Library the subject will be Improving Your Mood with Natural Medicine, presented by Dr. Shawn Carney ND. Did you know that an estimated 15% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives? Join Dr. Shawn M. Carney, a naturopathic physician at Northeast Natural Medicine, LLC, for this informative talk on effective ways of improving your mood with Natural Medicine. He will review how dietary and lifestyle changes can improve mood. He will also discuss scientific research supporting the use of herbal therapies or nutritional supplements for patients with mild to moderate depression. This session is free. www.northeastnatmed.com.

To end the month, on Tuesday January 31, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Woodbury Library the discussion will focus on “Inspiring U!”, and will be led by Yota Schneider a Life Transitions Coach. Think about it — we are in a brand new year, full of new beginnings and a sense of infinite possibilities! Are you ready? This session suggests that right now is the perfect time to reflect, renew and recommit to living your life to the fullest. In this interactive workshop with Yota Schneider you can explore and discover or reconnect with what makes your heart sing. This event is free. www.openforsuccess.com