Month: January 2012

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.

JanetLeave a comment