Month: September 2011

Halloween Starts This Weekend in Litchfield Hills!

Dracula, Frankenstein and other heroes of the horrors will be on hand, while spooks and spiders, ghouls and goblins will abound in haunted graveyards. The Litchfield Hills of Northwestern Connecticut will be filled with unique ways to celebrate Halloween throughout the month of October. Families can choose from fearsome to friendly, with many chances for younger children to don their costumes and parade in happy small town celebrations.

Scary Scenarios

For chills, make haste to the Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in Bristol, which has been called “The granddaddy of the horrifically good time.” An unholy order of monks keep watch over the graves in the dark caverns of the Catacombs here and a dark and misty fog envelops the graveyard where zombies and night stalkers have wakened from the dead. Some are real; others are amazing animatronic creations made by The Haunted Graveyard’s crazed staff. Recommended for adults, teens and very brave children, the park opens at dusk weekends from September 30 to October 31, and runs to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The Haunted Graveyard will not be open October 2 and rides will not be open on October 31st. Lake Compounce will also be operating 17 thrill rides including Boulder Dash, Wildcat, Down Time, and Zoomerang. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Associations. www.lakecompounce.com

This will be the 45th year for the annual Witches Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum in Bristol. The Graveyard Of Classic Ghouls sets the atmosphere as you enter the dungeon where accurate life-size figures of Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and others are featured in 13 scenes or dioramas based on the vintage movie chillers. Many of the figures are made from the actual life casts of the actor’s faces, plus some original costumes or props, in a wax museum style setting with special voice tracks by Vincent Price, Mark Hamill, and John Agar. Many Hollywood props are on display and vintage films may be shown outdoors, weather permitting. A special highlight this year is the display of the classic 1966 “Batmobile” for the opening weekend of Sept. 30 to October 2. Hours are Friday through Sunday evenings, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., September 30 to October 31. The Museum is not recommended for children under age 7. A $2.00 donation is suggested for all ages! www.preservehollywood.com

For more Halloween suggestions visit www.litchfieldhills.com

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Litchfield Historical Society and Litchfield County Auctions Team Up for Antiques Appraisal Day October 8

Won’t be able to make it to Antiques Roadshow this year? Wonder what Great Aunt Josephine’s favorite vase is worth? You can discover the value of all your heirlooms and collectibles at the Litchfield Historical Society’s Antiques Appraisal Day on Saturday, October 8 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Litchfield County Auctions, Inc.

For $20, participants will have their antique appraised by Weston Thorn’s expert staff, have the opportunity to preview LCA’s upcoming online auction, and enjoy a delicious hot dog and beverage at the same time.

Mr. Thorn’s involvement in the antiques and appraisal business began in the 1960s and he has flourished in Northwestern Connecticut’s Litchifeld Hills for almost 30 years. He is a member and one-time president of the Appraiser’s Association of America.

Thorn and his talented and knowledgeable staff have made Litchfield County Auctions Connecticut’s premier auction house and handled many important sales since 1994. Litchfield County Auctions, Inc. is located at 425 Bantam Road in Litchfield, CT.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Litchfield Historical Society. For more information on this or other events, hours of operation, or museum collections, please call the Litchfield Historical Society at (860) 567-4501 or visit http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

About Litchfield Historical Society

The Litchfield Historical Society, founded in 1856, is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Litchfield County, Connecticut through its museum, research library and historic house.

The Ingraham Memorial Research Library houses local business and organizational archives, manuscripts and family papers, reference books, and genealogical material.

The Tapping Reeve House, built in 1774, and the 1784 Law School interpret the family and home life of Tapping Reeve and his role in the development of American legal training.

The Litchfield History Museum invites visitors to explore the evolution of a small New England town. Furniture, historic clothing, household objects and paintings reveal Litchfield’s history from its earliest European settlement to the present day. The museum’s seven galleries highlight family life and work during the fifty years after the American Revolution, a time when Litchfield was a bustling commercial, political, and educational center. Hands-on areas help visitors discover the town’s past.

The Historical Society is a private non-profit organization supported by an active and growing membership.

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HawkWatch and Hawkwatch Festival & Green Bazaar at Greenwich Audubon Through Nov. 20

Each autumn, 17 species of hawks, eagles and vultures migrate southwest over Quaker Ridge’s scenic hilltops in northern Greenwich.

The fields are one of the highest locations in town and the sweeping views are an excellent vantage point for spotting birds. On clear days in September when winds are from the North, birders may count a few thousand broad-winged hawks as they swirl in ‘kettles’ before heading South along migration routes.

In the late 1960’s, birders searched Fairfield County for the best sites where large numbers of migrating raptors could be observed. Over several years, more than a dozen sites were tested on weekends and in the end, it was determined that the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch at Audubon Greenwich, was the best site in the area.

Ever since 1972, migrating hawks have been officially counted as they pass over Quaker Ridge (a.k.a. Hawk Watch Lawn). As part of the network of hawk watch locations nationwide, the Greenwich Audubon Society hired a full-time hawk watcher in 1985.The Official Hawk Counter staffs the site 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday, from August 20-November 20, each year.

On weekends, volunteer counters help to staff the site. Anyone is welcome to volunteer to become a counter at the Audubon’s Hawk Watch. The more eyes the better because the seasonal counts average 18,000 raptors. You don’t need to be able to identify the hawks. Greenwich Audubon simply needs eyes watching the skies! In fact, some of the best spotters are beginners that know very little about identification. Volunteers count and record the data and then, researchers can try to gauge the health of Northeastern raptor populations.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Greenwich Audubon Center during this exciting time of year and to ask questions, talk with volunteers, and enjoy counting eagles, hawks, and falcons from Hawk Watch Lawn.

For detailed data about raptor sightings at Greenwich, visit http://www.hawkcount.org.

Hawkwatch Festival & Green Bazaar October 1 & 2

Coming up on October 1 & 2, at the peak of the migration spectacle, Greenwich Audubon will host the ‘HawkWatch Weekend Festival & Green Bazaar’ that will feature two days of live birds of prey and animal shows, hands-on nature education, bird workshops, activities for kids, eco-shopping, food, and more! Festival is Rain or Shine from 11 am-5 pm. Admission is $7 for youth/$10 for adults (New or current Audubon Members: $5 for youth / $7 for adults). $35 National Audubon Society family memberships will be available at the Festival Gate.

For more information visit http://greenwich.audubon.org. To learn more about exhibiting or the schedule, call Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239.

About the Audubon Center at Audubon Greenwich

The Audubon Center in Greenwich opened in 1942 as the National Audubon Society’s first environmental education center in the United States on land donated by Eleanor Clovis Reese and H. Hall Clovis. The 295-acre sanctuary has approximately seven miles of trails that lead to a hardwood forest, old fields, lake, streams and vernal ponds. Reminders of the past are the stone walks, an old apple orchard and original New England homestead buildings. Audubon Greenwich’s main sanctuary is the site located at 613 Riversville Road, which is comprised of 285 acres, with 7 miles of walking trails. There you will find the Kimberlin Nature Education Center building with exhibits, staff offices and classrooms. The Center contains the Hilfiger Children’s Learning Center with hands-on nature activities and interpretive natural history exhibits, the Kiernan Hall Nature Art Gallery, a Wildlife Viewing Window and honey bee hive exhibit, a Nature Gift Store: books, binoculars, birdfeeders, gifts. The Kimberlin Center is also available for event rentals and children’s parties. Audubon Greenwich is comprised of 11 other sanctuaries totaling 686 acres of woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, and 15 additional miles of hiking trails.

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Westport CT Arts Center Sponsors Facebook Contest

Westport Arts Center Sponsors Facebook Contest Westport Arts Center is offering through Facebook a chance to win artwork by three well-known local artists: Janine Brown, Miggs Burroughs and Nina Bentley. The artists have generously donated original works of art to help the Westport Arts Center build a fanbase. “Long-time WAC patron and Fairfield-based artist, Janine Brown, initiated this idea in an effort to help the Arts Center build its social media presence,” said Alyssa Crouse, Westport Arts Center marketing director. “Facebook is an excellent way for us to communicate information instantaneously to people in the community, share links, and network in a unique way. We invite everyone in Westport and beyond to join WAC’s growing network of fans and enter this exciting contest to win original works of art by artists that are recognized internationally.”

To enter the contest, log onto your Facebook Profile at http://www.facebook.com. In the search window, type in “Westport Arts Center” and click on the option that comes up in the search window. At the Westport Arts Center Facebook, page click “Like” on the top of the page. Those who are already WAC fans will be automatically entered into the contest.

Three winners will be randomly selected in a drawing and announced via Facebook on Thursday, October 1.

The Westport Arts Center is a visual and performing arts organization dedicated to creating arts experiences that enrich the lives of area residents and the entire community. The Westport Arts Center is supported with funds from the Arthur and Heida Hermanns Holde Foundation, Inc., the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, 4th Row Films, Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation, Fairfield County Bank, Fairfield County Community Foundation, Gault, Inc., GWAY Marketing Gymnasium, Independent Film Channel, Melissa and Doug, Moffly Media, New Alliance Bank, Pepperidge Farm, Inc., U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Westport Resources, Westport Sunrise Rotary, Young Voices Program, Xerox Foundation, and WSHU Public Radio Group.

For information, contact Westport Arts Center at 203-222-7070 or go to the website at ww.westportartscenter.org. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., at 51 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT.

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New Milford CT – TheatreWorks Opens Play With Help From Family of Legendary Actress Lynn Redgrave Through Oct. 8th

TheatreWorks New Milford is presenting legendary actress Lynn Redgrave’s playwriting debut, SHAKESPEARE FOR MY FATHER, with assistance from her immediate family: son Ben Clark, daughter Annabel Clark, and Mr. Clark’s wife, Neva.

SHAKESPEARE FOR MY FATHER runs September 23, 24 & 30, October 1&2, 7 & 8. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee on October 2. Tickets for all shows are $20 for reserved seating. On Thursday, September 15, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m., is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Lynn Redgrave, who passed away last year, had been acting on both stage and screen since the 1950s prior to writing SHAKESPEARE FOR MY FATHER in 1993. This autobiographical one-woman tale of Ms. Redgrave’s memories has been crafted into a complex, funny, and moving portrait of a child’s longing for the love of Sir Michael Redgrave – the inscrutable, daunting, and charismatic Shakespearean actor who was her father. Acclaimed in America and the UK, SHAKESPEARE FOR MY FATHER weaves scenes from the Bard that delightfully fuse with events in Ms. Redgrave’s young life, eliciting memories of Sir Michael and engaging impressions of the celebrated stars who frequented the Redgrave’s home and lives.

The play’s director, Jane Farnol of Gaylordsville, had become well-acquainted with the renowned actress over the past few years as they had several things in common. “We both lived in Kent , Connecticut at the time, we’re both English, and she adored my Mum,” Farnol said. “I recall a time when Lynn and I went to see ‘Guys and Dolls’ at New Milford High School and she leaned over to me and said, ‘This was Dad’s favorite song.’ It fascinates me, because here we are mounting the first play she ever wrote, and Susan Pettibone, who’s doing an outstanding job portraying Lynn , speaks of Sir Michael Redgrave’s love of American Musicals in the play. I get goose bumps thinking about it.”

“When I first knew I was going to be playing Lynn Redgrave, I was very nervous and considered it a daunting task,” said actress Susan Pettibone of New Milford . “What’s made it so incredibly special is working with Jane [Farnol]…she has such insight and is such a wonderful director, plus she knew Lynn personally. So needless to say, I was honored she chose me for this part. The more I delve into the character of Ms. Redgrave, my respect for Lynn as a person and an actress reaches new heights. It’s been a very moving experience.”

Ms. Redgrave’s children have retrieved vintage photographs of the Redgrave family for the production. Also, the Clark/Redgrave family provided TheatreWorks with the original chair that Ms. Redgrave herself used on Broadway along with the show’s original music that was used when her play debuted there in 1993.

“The whole family has been ever so supportive,” Farnol said. “We had initially played around with lots of different ideas on how to execute Lynn ‘s story…and the family was fine with that. But in the end I told Ben [ Clark ] we’d gone back to his Mum’s basic wonderful play. We’re so proud to be producing her show in her memory. Lynn impacted so many people’s lives, including mine.”

In addition to Ms. Farnol and Ms. Pettibone, who both designed the show’s set, the show’s crew includes producer and lighting designer Richard Pettibone, sound designer Tom Libonate, and stage manager Sonnie Osborne.

Reservations can be made online at http://www.theatreworks.us or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue , just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, Connecticut.

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Fall Impressionist Painting Workshop at Weir Farm Wilton CT

There has been a tradition of Impressionist painting at Weir Farm National Historic Site since Julian Alden Weir, the father of American Impressionism, acquired this rural, rustic retreat in Branchville, Connecticut in 1882.

To honor as well as to continue this tradition, Weir Farm National Historic Site will be offering a two-day Fall Impressionist Painting Workshop on Saturday and Sunday October 1 and 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This workshop is designed for intermediate and advanced art students and artists interested in learning more about the science and poetry of Impressionist landscape painting.

Participants must have a basic understanding of their selected art form and be able to handle their own equipment for plein air fieldwork as well as for the studio workshop environment.

Workshops will include introductory classroom lectures, field demonstrations, and critique of the participant’s artwork. Registration for this workshop is free, but space is limited to twelve artists, so please call early to secure a spot!

First choice will be given to artists who have not participated in a previous Impressionist Painting Workshop at Weir Farm National Historic Site. However, for those artists who wish to return, names will be placed on a wait-list and be considered as space allows.


To register or for more information, please call (203) 834-1896 ext.10. This workshop is just one in a series that will be offered at Weir Farm National Historic Site.

The How to be an Impressionist Painter Workshop Series will be taught by Impressionist artist and educator Dmitri Wright, of Greenwich, Connecticut. Mr. Wright seeks to continue the Impressionist discipline through his preservation and progress of American Impressionism as the artist-in-residence of the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich and as an instructor of Impressionist drawing and painting at the Greenwich Art Society, Silvermine School of Art, and Weir Farm National Historic Site.

Visitors to Weir Farm National Historic Site are always invited to set up their easels and paint this unspoiled landscape that has inspired impressionists for years.

About Weir Farm

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 or the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nps.gov/wefa or call (203) 834-1896.

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