Author: Janet

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

Exhibit: Collections, Community & Conversation at the Danbury Historical Society

The Danbury Museum & Historical Society located on 43 Main Street in Danbury will be launching an 2014 Accessible Art Exhibit, in conjunction with the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and will run through the month of March.

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The exhibit cases in Huntington Hall will be filled with a wealth of interesting objects gleaned from the collections of individuals from The Greater Danbury area; including vintage photographs on display from guest curator, Catherine Vanaria, Professor of photographer at Western Connecticut State University. She is also President and Co-Owner of Connecticut Photographics, Inc., a professional photographic and digital lab located in Danbury.

On display will be an eclectic mix of objects including sewing machines, turn of the century postcards, milk glass, examples of antique book bindings, slide rules, colonial apothecary items, vintage toys, dolls, vintage pins and more.

The exhibit will be open to the public Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. Collections will be on display through March. The museum will be hosting several roundtable discussions and will sponsor an educational program, ‘How to Start a Collection’ and ‘Preserving Treasured Photographs,’ presented by Catherine Vanaria on March 15, 2014. A schedule of events and additional information will be available on the museum website.

For more information visit www.danburymuseum.org or call 203-743-5200. For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

ABOUT THE DMHSA: The Danbury Museum & Historical Society was formed in 1947 to acquire, preserve, exhibit and interpret New England’s past; focusing particularly on the heritage of Danbury. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary Rider House (c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building houses the museum offices and research library.

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Louisiana-Styled Fun at the Carousel Museum Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras seems has never been more popular with events to fete the carnival season popping up all over. Mardi Gras refers to Kings Day and culminates in Ash Wednesday. In French it means “fat Tuesday” referring to the practice of the last night of eating rich foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. This year, the New England Carousel Museum will be in full carnival mode during its 24th Anniversary Mardi Gras celebration that is taking place on Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 7-11 PM.

The Museum has organized a Louisiana-styled evening that will feature dancing to the music of the acclaimed Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet in the museum ballroom. In addition to dancing, there will be with a silent auction with many exciting prizes up for grabs, a wine and bourbon tasting, and food a plenty!

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Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask or come in full costume and to BOYB. The evening festivities will culminate in the crowning of a king and queen of the ball. “This party is sure to pull you out of your winter doldrums while helping to support the Museum’s educational programs.

Tickets are on sale at the Carousel Museum. RSVP by February 24, 2014 by calling (860) 585-5411. The cost is $50 per person pre-paid tables of 8 may be reserved. The proceeds will support educational programming and general operating costs. The event will be held on site at the New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave., Bristol.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact The New England Carousel Museum at (860) 585-5411 or email info@the carouselmuseum.org. For more information about the museum visit www.thecarouselmuseum.org. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

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Alex Katz: Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art at the Mattatuck Museum

The Mattatuck Museum’s feature exhibit is Dancing in the Moonlight: Nocturns by Charles Yoder, that is on view through March 2, 2014.

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This exhibition takes us on a walk through the forest at night, moving between trees to find your way in these mysterious places filled with dark shadows and changing light. Charles Yoder started creating these natured-based paintings because of what he saw in his backyard one winter’s night. This vision of the light from a full moon shining down through pine boughs, and the shadows it made on the snow covered forest floor inspired Yoder. The very real, abstract shapes evoked the question, “How can I paint this?” and he has been following that thought ever since.

Charles Yoder, born in Germany in 1948 and raised in the States, is an artist living in Tribeca. His college education began at the University of Maine (Orono) and he graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute (Brooklyn) with honors. Over the years he has supported his art making habit with various jobs including director of Castelli Graphics and curator to the artist Robert Rauschenberg. Presently he paints full time and teaches printmaking part time at the School of Visual Arts.

About the Mattatuck Museum
Visit www.MattatuckMuseum.org or call (203) 753-0381 for more information on all of the museum’s adult and children’s programs, events and exhibits. The Mattatuck Museum is operated with support from the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development, CT Office of the Arts which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, a group of 16 world-class museums and historic sites (www.arttrail.org). Located at 144 West Main Street, on the green in Waterbury, CT the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Free parking is located behind the building on Park Place.

For information on Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

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Color, Pattern & Light at Pequot Library

The Beth Munro exhibition Color, Pattern & Light, opens in The Perkin Gallery at Pequot Library on Sunday, February 23, 2014, with a reception from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. The exhibition and sale runs from February 23 through March 30, 2014. It is free and open to the public.

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The pure pleasure of form, color, patterns, and texture are the qualities Beth Munro tries to capture in her paintings. Her still life paintings and interiors reflect her love of everyday objects and the beauty of the ordinary. Munro’s paintings are often based on both reality and sometimes derived from her imagination. The interaction of colors, shapes, and form create a harmonious rhythm, keeping the viewer’s eye constantly moving through the composition. Ms. Munro has been influenced by many artists and grew up in an artistic family. Further information about the artist can be found on her website http://bethmunro.com/

Please visit www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

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Saltana Caves a great place to unwind

In Europe and Asia, salt caves are well known for their healing powers. Visitors to Litchfield Hills can experience the healing and wellness powers of a salt cave at Saltana Cave Spa, at the junction of Rte. 7 and Rte. 35 on 590 Danbury Rd. in Ridgefield located between Danbury and Norwalk. Here you will experience the European tradition and health benefits of a salt cave.

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Entering the salt cave at Saltana Cave Spa you are surrounded with tons of pink and tan hued health healing Himalayan salt crystals. The salt is underfoot and the crystals are literally and beautifully embedded in the walls. The room glows with a warm pink light that induces immediate relaxation.

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Saltana Caves offers speleotherapy better known as salt cave therapy as well as halotherapy, a special treatment that uses a salt vapor. Halotherapy is reputed to treat respiratory ailments, skin irritations and is said to combat mental lethargy.
As you get settled in zero gravity chairs the first thing you will notice is that you are entirely surrounded by salt, the cave even has a glimmering salt fireplace.

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Imperceptibly dry aerosol salt vapor is pumped into the air and is accompanied by a tape that details the health benefits of the salt minerals that surround you. Soft new age music follows the introduction to salt cave therapy and is perfect to unwind to. A highly regarded benefit of salt cave therapy is the naturally produced negative ions that are said to reduce stress, headaches, and lethargy.

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Cave sessions last about 45 minutes and run on the hour from noon to 7 p.m. (last session at 6 p.m.) from Tuesday – Friday. On Sat. the Cave is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sessions for children one to eight take place Tuesday – Friday at 12 noon and 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to be signed in. Call (203) 969-4327 for reservations. For more information http://saltanacave.com

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Several area hotels have packages with Saltana including Danbury Crowne Plaza that offers a package with a salt treatment for one through December 31, 2014 starting at $144 inclusive of overnight stay and salt cave treatment for one. Additional passes for the salt cave experience can be purchased. Call the Crowne Plaza for 203-794-0600 for reservations.

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Civil Rights Programs at Litchfield and Torrington Historical Society’s

The Litchfield and Torrington Historical Society’s have teamed up to present two civil rights programs based on the Created Equal Film Series and will be presented on February 20 and March 20th. These documentaries with riveting new footage illustrate the history of civil rights in America. Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that uses the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion of America’s civil rights history.

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On February 20, (snow date Thursday, Feb. 27) at the Torrington Historical Society located on 192 Main Street in the heart of Torrington will host Tom Hogan who will discuss the film, The Loving Story, which examines the groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court decision on interracial marriages. Tom Hogan, former lawyer and legal history professor at UConn, we will take a look at a groundbreaking case that dealt with the legality of interracial marriages. The documentary brings to life the Lovings’ marriage and the legal battle that followed through little-known filmed interviews and photographs shot for Life magazine. Participants will view film clips from the HBO documentary as well as supplemental materials provided by Mr. Hogan.

The second event in this civil rights series takes place on March 20 (snow date March 27) at the Litchfield Historical Society located on 7 South Street in Litchfield with the film, Freedom Riders. Litchfield blogger and history professor Pete Vermilyea brings to light the activities of the freedom riders in the last of our film series. Freedom Riders tells the terrifying, moving, and suspenseful story of a time when white and black volunteers riding a bus into the Deep South risked being jailed, beaten, or killed, as white local and state authorities ignored or encouraged violent attacks. The film includes previously unseen amateur 8-mm footage of the burning bus on which some Freedom Riders were temporarily trapped, taken by a local twelve-year-old and held as evidence since 1961 by the FBI.

All program are free and open to the public. To register for any of these programs please call the Litchfield Historical Society at 860-567-4501 or email registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org. For more information visit http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/tours/createdequal.php

For information on the Litchfield Hills on where to stay, dine and shop www.litchfieldhills.com

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