Author: Janet

I like to share travel deals, destinations, and travel tips!

Goshen Stampede offers Family Fun Fathers Day Weekend

Promising the best Stampede ever and one of the most unique Fathers Day events anywhere, the 7th Annual Goshen Stampede will go into action for three days, June 13 to 15, bringing Western style rodeo thrills to Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills Champion roping, racing and the challenge of cowboy versus bucking bull and bronco will be the highlights of this busy weekend, which will feature two official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeos.

bull_riding_web

Two traditional fair favorites, Demolition Derbies, and Truck Pull competitions, will also be on the schedule. Fireworks on Saturday night, non-stop music on the main stage, a kids’ rodeo and free Petting Zoo and plenty of great food fill out the agenda and insure a good time for all. Proceeds from the event help support local charities as well as national organizations supporting the men, women, and families of the United States Armed Services.

demo_derby_3

This year, there will be a Motor Sports Arena with Full size cars Friday night and a Figure 8 race with Compact cars Sunday afternoon with special guest driver “AJ” from the WPLR morning radio show. There will also be 2 Pro Rodeos Saturday and Sunday in the Kicks 105.5 Arena with Bulls, Broncs, and Cowboys from Las Vegas and Madison Square Gardens, 2 Days of Truck Warz.

diesel_truck_smoke

The three day Music Festival will features country stars including Blackjack Billy and Chris Janson as well as 10 other regional favorites on the Country 92.5 Stage.

Blackjack_Billy

There will also be an action Packed Midway, Free WZBG Petting Zoo and Kids Rodeo as well as Redneck games on the WZBG Family Stage, plus great food and lots of vendors to round out the fun. Don’t forget that prizes will be awarded for the best event themed attire so dress up and have some fun!
The Stampede will be take place at the Goshen Fair Grounds, 116 Old Middle Street in Goshen. Hours are Friday, June 13th, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m; Saturday, June 14th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 15th 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is Adults, $12 online and 14 at the gate, ages 10-17, $8 online and $10 at the gate and under 10 $6 at Gate or Free with Coupon & Paid Adult. Advance purchase is available at www.goshenstampede.com, where a complete schedule of events is also posted

JanetLeave a comment

Walking Tours of Historic Litchfield June 6 & 21

Litchfield is often referred to as the most well preserved colonial town in America and with good reason as the center was the first in Connecticut to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the state in 1959.

litch congo church

The Litchfield Historical Society’s annual slate of walking tours for June begins at 10:00 am. During each tour, a museum educator or guest tour guide offers participants a new way to look at their surroundings with themed walks through Litchfield’s history. Each tour lasts about an hour—make sure to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable shoes!

Saturday, June 7 the theme of the tour will be on Litchfield and the Beecher Family. “This country is inhabited by sinners, saints, and Beechers.” Join the Historical Society on a tour through the places relating to the Beecher family, from the Congregational Church to the sites of their homestead and the Litchfield Female Academy on North Street. Hear the Beechers’ reflections on their childhood in Litchfield and the events that shaped their lives as activists, authors, and preachers in America’s most famous family.

016

Saturday, June 21 is a very special “Curators” tour of Litchfield’s colonial revival architecture. In conjunction with the Society’s new exhibit on Litchfield during the Colonial Revival, The Lure of the Litchfield Hills, curator of collections Jessica Jenkins will lead a walking tour exploring some of the Colonial Revival hot spots around town.

litc house

Taking the stories of the Colonial Revival out of the museum, participants will have a chance to hear about how areas of town, such as the business block and town green, underwent major changes in the first part of the 20th century. Ms. Jenkins will also explore the motives behind the social movement and touch on the evolution of the appearance of private homes as well as such iconic building as the Congregational Church. Join them for a intimate look at the Colonial Revival Movement in Litchfield and take a walk through history as you learn why Litchfield looks the way it does today.

This program is free for members and $10 for non-members; registration is required. Please call (860) 567-4501 or email registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org to register.

The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South St., Litchfield, CT. For more information about this or other programs, please see www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or call (860) 567-4501.

For information on where to stay, dine and shop visit www.litchifeldhills.com

JanetLeave a comment

June fun at Greenwich Historical Society

The Greenwich Historical Society has planned four fun filled events for the month of June beginning with a lecture on June 10 by Dr. Jackson Lears on Two Gilded Ages from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Education Center.

Dr. Jackson Lears
Dr. Jackson Lears

For some years, historians have theorized that we are living in a second Gilded Age, a reprise of the era that occurred a century ago. The decades between the1980s and the 2010s hold a remarkable similarity to those between the 1880s and the 1910s, both periods characterized by unregulated economic expansion, flagrant corruption on Wall Street, growing class divisions, the concentration of wealth within a conspicuously consuming elite and a series of imperial adventures (or misadventures) abroad.

Dr. Jackson Lears will examine the parallels and differences between the two eras to explain why the growth of inequality 100 years ago provoked widespread demands for reform among the populace (even among the well-to-do, motivated then by a paternalistic sense of responsibility), while contemporary comment on the situation is largely absent.

DixonPalette

Connecticut’s Open House Day falls on June 14 this year and the Greenwich Historical Society is planning a collage workshop that will focus on creating two-dimensional collages crafted from papers, fabrics, photographs, found objects and natural materials such as dried grasses, twigs, leaves, or petals. All materials will be provided, but participants may also bring copies of favorite photos, newspaper articles or other items to incorporate into their work. The workshop will take place in the Vanderbilt Education Center from noon to 2:00 pm, and all ages are welcome.

HistoryWheels

On June 21, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm the Greenwich Historical Society is planning a two-wheeled adventure and will provide a historical bike tour of Greenwich Point as a part of the annual Experience the Sound event. Participants are invited to explore the rich history of Greenwich point looking at everything from its geology to the many features that make it the beloved town park it is today. Participants will meet at the first parking lot on the right after entering the park. As the group travels around the point they will stop to hear stories, take a closer look at some of the ruins and see vintage photos from the Historical Society’s collection. There will also be a scavenger hunt for children. Participants must bring their own bike and helmet and a water bottle is highly recommended. No reservations required and participation is free, but a park or guest pass is required for entry to Greenwich Point. All ages are welcome but children must be able to ride a bike.

Festa

The month ends with a Festa Al Fresco, on June 29 from 4 pm to 7 pm a potluck supper to celebrate the history and the community of Italian immigrants who settled in Greenwich in the early twentieth century. The family “festa” was launched last year as part of the Historical Society’s programming for the exhibition From Italy to America and in celebration of the Town of Greenwich’s twinning ( “Gemallagio”) with the Italian cities of Rose and Morra di Sanctis, where many of Greenwich’s Italian early immigrants came from. The event proved so successful that it’s back by popular demand. Guests are invited to demonstrate their culinary skills and to show off favorite family recipes (enough to share with 6-8) in one of four categories: antipasti/appetizers, pasta/main dishes, sides and salads or desserts. Wine, musical entertainment and crafts for kids are included in the price of admission. Mangiamo!

For more information about the Greenwich Historical Society visit http://greenwichhistory.org/

JanetLeave a comment

New Season for the Clay and Wattles Theatre in Bethlehem

The 2014 Season at The Gary-The Olivia Theater in Bethlehem (on the grounds of the Abbey of Regina Laudis) begins with two one-act plays written by American Playwright Horton Foote. “Blind Date” and “The Actor” will be performed on June 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 pm and June 15 and 22 at 2:30 pm.

sideviewtheater

These beautifully written comedies set in the fictional town of Harrison, Texas are guaranteed to delight audiences with their poetry, insight into human nature and comic touch.

A prolific writer and winner of many awards. Mr. Foote wrote over 60 plays, television dramas and screenplays spanning a sixty year career. Perhaps most widely know for his screenplays for the films To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983), winning the Oscar for both, Mr. Foote received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1995 for the play, The Young Man From Atlanta.

Both comedies deal with conflicts between the generations. In Blind Date, a former beauty pageant queen tries to persuade her recalcitrant and unwilling niece on the art of “How to attract a suitor,” and in The Actor, the well-intentioned parents try to dissuade their young son from pursuing a career in the theater.

Set in the fictional South Texas town of Harrison in the 1930’s, these plays bring out both the charm and pitfalls of small town USA in a humorous and engaging way.

On Friday, June 13, 2014, our opening night gala performance for Blind Date and The Actor will include complimentary wines from Walker Road Vineyards and local artisan made cheeses. Tickets are $25 per person for opening night and $20 per person for the run of the show. Season Subscription Package and Senior Discounts are available at: http://www.thegarytheolivia.com. 11 yrs and younger are admitted free.

Admission for opening night and details on our 2014 season is at: thegarytheolivia.com. More information:info@thegarytheolivia.com or 203-273-5669.

JanetLeave a comment

Westport’s Hidden Garden Tour

Be sure to mark Sunday, June 8th, on your calendars, garden lovers. That’s the day the Westport Historical Society rolls out its annual Hidden Garden Tour of five exceptional properties in Westport and Fairfield, and a Garden Market on the town’s Veterans Green, followed by a gala Garden Party that evening under a festive tent also on Veterans Green.

weblogotulip-1

Among the gardens to be showcased on the self-guided tour is one its owners say “has put the green in Greens Farms.” And another at a land-marked house that once belonged to George Hand Wright, dean of Westport’s art community from 1907 to 1951. Green-thumbs can learn how others deal with such problems as nibbling deer, large swaths of shade, and variations in dry and wet soil.

The five venues of the Garden Tour will offer visitors the opportunity to connect to nature will all their senses. Garden experiences will include musicians, old-fashioned croquet, moving meditation demonstrations, food and beverage tastings, and garden experts.

Here’s an overview of this year’s five featured gardens:

Discovery and Restoration: Quite overgrown when the current owner moved there in 2010, George Hand Wright’s 1767 house sits on a spacious tract bounded by native stone walls. Scattered about are specimen trees: a Japanese katsura, Zelkova elm and towering Norway maple in the front, old apple trees and newer cherry trees in the side yard, and a weeping cherry and star magnolia near the drive. The flower beds are planted in blue tones favored by the owner and include blue hydrangeas, Russian sage, and butterfly bush. Behind the house, the lawn slopes to a restored pond and wetlands. An added treat is the secret garden behind the painter’s studio that was unearthed when the owner discovered “a mysterious brick stairway that seemed to go nowhere.”

Greenfield Hill Gem: This 1824 Dutch-style house atop Greenfield Hill has quite a pedigree. It occupies land first settled by the ancestors of the owner’s late husband in the 1600s. In 1976, when the couple moved in, they inherited an English rose garden designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmstead, the creator of New York’s Central Park. Though no longer planted in roses, the garden’s format remains unchanged, its beds enclosed in stone walls and sharing space with boxwoods and a pond.

Inspiration of Roses: Possessing little sophistication when its current owners arrived in the late 1990s, this home and garden in the Gorham Avenue Historic District near downtown Westport was nevertheless redeemed by “good bones.” So the couple, who both came from gardening families, set to work creating their own landscape, inspired by the six David Austin roses received as a housewarming gift. The centerpiece is a magnificent Japanese maple surrounded by a shade garden comprised of hosta, ferns, and Japanese forest grass. The sunnier areas show off borders of lamb’s ear, stonecrop, peonies, irises and lilies, and beds of lily of the valley, bloodroot, and imperata. Expect to see some bees as the owners are beekeepers as well as gardeners.

Continuous Blooming Color: Owned by landscape architects in the Stratfield section of Fairfield, this property is defined by the presence of old-growth trees whose dense canopy has forced the owners to use shade- tolerant plants. Even so, they have managed to provide color and bloom time from March to October using perennials, spring flowering lawn and garden bulbs, and flowering bushes and trees. A garden of wetland grasses and flowering native plants peeks from behind a 100-year-old spring-fed swimming pool. And a rock ledge beside the home is populated by daffodils, crocus, hosta, azalea, rhododendron, and woodland geranium.

Summer Hill Bliss: At this garden on a private Green’s Farms cul-de-sac, the plantings were inspired by the New York Botanical Garden and embellished by the owners’ love of wordplay. The formal garden is divided into three rooms, one with free-form beds divided by “a boulevard of grass” and another that the owners describe as a tranquil space with an alley. They call it their Zen Central. The pool/patio area features a white garden that changes with the seasons.
Hours for the Garden Tour are 11am to 4pm. Ticket prices are $40 for WHS members, $50 for non-members, and $55 if purchased on the day of the tour. A jitney service will be available to the gardens at an additional $20 per person. To reserve a seat, those interested should call Sue at 203-222-1424.

Tour-goers can start or finish their rounds by checking out the Garden Market on Veterans Green, adjacent to WHS headquarters. A variety of practical and fanciful items for home and garden will be for sale including plants, garden tools, antiques, jewelry, and accessories. Admission is free. Following the garden tour and market will be the Garden Party, also on Veterans Green, from 6:30 to 9:00. Guests will enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided by local restaurants and caterers, silent and live auctions, while listening to live jazz.

Tickets are $50 per person. Tickets for the Garden Tour and Garden Party may be purchased online at https://westporthistory.securesites.com/products/index.php?type=883&PCID=883:0:0:0:0 , or by visiting or calling Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, 203- 222-1424 across from Westport Town Hall. Tickets and garden directions will be available for pick up Sunday, June 8th from 10am to 2pm at the Garden Market.

JanetLeave a comment

Jiggle a Jelly at the Maritime Aquarium Norwalk

Apparently it’s a lot of fun to touch jellyfish when you know you won’t be stung. “Jiggle A Jelly” has become a permanent offering at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The display, will now will be open on weekends, holidays and school-vacation days through June 30, and then daily in July and August. It’s free with Aquarium admission.

Aquar.JiggleAJelly

Visitors will be able to experience the unusual sensation of touching jellies making Jiggle A Jelly’ one of the Aquarium regular hands-on features, along with their Intertidal Touch Tank and our Shark & Ray Touch Pool.

Visitors can safely touch live moon jellyfish, one of the most common species in Long Island Sound. Maritime Aquarium volunteers staff the exhibit, encouraging visitors to use two fingers to gently touch the top of the jellyfishes’ gelatinous body or “bell.”

Moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) do have tentacles but their stings are generally benign to people. A common species in Long Island Sound, they grow to dinner-plate size during the warmth of summer. Short tentacles rim their bell, and four “oral arms” extend underneath. Moon jellies are colorless and translucent, except for four central horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs.

Aquar.JIggleAJelly2 (1)

Letting visitors get close to jellyfish is nothing new for The Maritime Aquarium. A mesmerizing gallery featuring moon jellies, sea nettles, lion’s mane and other live species of jellyfish is now in its 19th year at the Aquarium and remains among the most popular and memorable exhibits.

Plus, displays of jellies in their various life stages in the Jellyfish Culture Lab let visitors see how the Aquarium keeps a year-round supply of the seasonal creatures on exhibit. But “Jiggle A Jelly” is the first time visitors have been able to touch them.

Learn more about the Aquarium’s exhibits, IMAX® movies and programs at www.maritimeaquarium.org or by calling (203) 852-0700. For information about Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

JanetLeave a comment