Author: Janet

There is nothing like fresh produce and one of the best places in Litchfield Hills to find it is at Kent’s Farmers Market that is open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through October 29 on 9 South Main Street across from NAPA Auto. There are so many choices so grab your bag and come on down and browse an assortment of offerings from fresh veggies, steaks, baked goods, and prepared foods to fruit and arts and crafts.

Ridgeway farm will be there offering a wide assortment of veggies from winter squash and musk melons to carrots, garlic, kale, and even ground beef, ribs, sausage, and kielbasa, and much more, perfect for an autumn feast. The Village Farm offers locally grown apples and pears, colorful fall mums, purple-red sun and red Norland potatoes, shunkyo radishes, leeks, garlic and shallots, and much more, all certified and naturally grown. Kent Market Garden has a fine assortment of kale, swiss chard, eggs, and heirloom tomatoes while Sharon Mountain Microgreens offers delicate microgreens year-round. If you are in the mood for red meat don’t miss the De Hoek Farm’s NY strip steaks, brisket, flank, flap, and flat iron steak, perfect for grilling. For some sweet relief, head to Falsonwood Farms for wildflower honey, knotweed honey, and pure beeswax candles, and, then check out Sophie’s Restaurant and Bakery that is offering a fine selection of tempting goodies.

If you have worked up a thirst, no worries, stop off at New Park Brewing that is offering blender double raspberry and Laurel DIPA, and Cloudscape IPA. If you are not in the mood to cook, check out My Chef to Go who is offering Greek favorites, and Soups by James Fox who has cooked up a variety of tasty homemade soups, stews, and gumbos, ideal for a cool autumn night. For a healthy snack, An Average Jill offers wholesome Moon Mix and Sunrise granola, for something with a little zest, check out Rachel’s Salsa, and don’t miss Free Range Pickles that come in a variety of flavors.

Why not treat yourself or a friend to a special gift… Vine Gate Lavender is offering a number of lavender-inspired products including dried lavender bunches and the Cozy Cottage, which has an interesting variety of unique embroidered items for sale.

For up-to-date information and the recipe of the week visit the Kent Farmers Market website.

The Maritime Aquarium located on 10 North Water Street in Norwalk has a new attraction, Pinniped Cove. Visitors will be thrilled with the close-up views of the Aquarium’s five female harbor seals – Rasal, Ariel, Leila, Polly, and Tillie – as they explore their enormous new habitat, which also is now The Maritime Aquarium’s largest display.

“Pinniped Cove” lets you follow the seals from three sides and two levels: underwater at floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor; and above the surface on the second floor. This 22-foot-deep exhibit is more than eight times larger than its original exhibit!

“Pinniped Cove” celebrates seals – members of the pinniped group along with sea lions and walruses – as a conservation success story, through graphic displays that explain how their populations have rebounded greatly in New England.

Be sure to catch a “Seal-Training Demonstration” to learn more about seals and watch them being fed at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. daily.

White Memorial Foundation is hosting the 39th Annual Family Nature Day Upscale Tag Sale on September 25, 2021.

To bid on a beautiful book, blanket, artwork, antique, High Tea with a Turtle, or Owl Prowl with Fran Zygmont visit https://www.32auctions.com/NatureDayAuction2021 This year they are taking their silent auction online! You’ll never feel left out again! All of these riches are now available to you! A handy donation button can be found on the upper right-hand side of the page! Funds raised will support the Conservation Center’s end of fiscal year expenses.

About The White Memorial Conservation Center
The White Memorial Foundation is the result of the vision of two generous and creative people, Alain C. White and his sister, May W. White. Between 1908 and 1912 they purchased several tracts of land surrounding their family’s Whitehall property on the north shore of Bantam Lake. In 1913 these lands were conveyed to the White Memorial Foundation, an organization that was incorporated in May of that year as a memorial to Alain and May’s parents, John Jay and Louise.

In 1964, the Trustees of The White Memorial Foundation established The White Memorial Conservation Center to further the Foundation’s education role through the implementation of natural history education and research programs for the public. Located in the heart of the Foundation property, the Conservation Center is housed in “Whitehall,” the former White family home.

The Center, whose mission is to instill understanding, appreciation and respect for the natural world, provides year-round programs for people of all ages. Programs are directed by full-time professional staff, assisted by a core of volunteers and part-time employees.

The Center also operates a Nature Museum with exhibits focusing on the interpretation of local natural history, conservation, and ecology. Over 20,000 people of all ages visit the Center each year to walk through the Museum or take part in an education program.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, head to Hopkins Vineyard located in New Preston Connecticut overlooking beautiful Lake Waramaug. Tour the vineyard and treat yourself to a wine tasting in their atmospheric tasting room located in an old barn. Head to the hayloft and enjoy your favorite wine while snacking on local cheese overlooking the lake.

For a special treat, try Hopkins Apple Cider Wine, an authentic off-dry farmhouse cider made from select local apples from Buell’s Orchard in Eastford.

This weekend, Hopkins is also offering music. Mike Tedesco will play from 3 pm – 6 on Saturday, September 4, Dunn St. Revival will play on Sunday, Sept. 5 from 2 pm – 5 pm and Lesiw and Gardener will play from 2-5pm on Monday, September 6.

The winery is open daily, Monday – Friday from 11 am – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am – 6 pm and Sunday, 11 am – 6pm.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is the new home for two Black and Gold Howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya). The two Howler monkeys are sisters from San Antonio, Texas. Estrella, six years old, and Catalina, four years old, join the Zoo’s existing male Howler monkey, Cain, whose two previous female companions passed away from advanced age.

Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said, “Our Black and Gold Howler monkeys are some of the most popular animals who make their home here at the Zoo for their charismatic personalities. Native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, they are an important South American species. We’re pleased to welcome ‘Ella’ and ‘Lina’ to the Zoo.”

Other recent additions to the Rainforest Building include a golden lion tamarin, a Goeldi’s monkey, and a two-toed sloth, all new residents within the last year. Two North American river otters, Sedge and Tahu, are also recent additions to the Zoo family. Last week, two Dexter cows were added to the New England Farmyard.

About Black and Gold Howler Monkeys
These large monkeys grow to about 2 ft. in length, not including their tail, and have long soft fur. Males can weigh on average about 15 lbs., sometimes weighing twice as much as females. These monkeys have a long prehensile tail, with a hairless underside, useful for grabbing onto tree limbs when they are feeding. Howler monkeys are the loudest animals in the New World, with a guttural howl that can travel for three miles through dense forest. These monkeys are a great example of sexual dichromatism when females and males of the same species have different colors. Females and young of both genders are a golden color, while adult males are black. The species is under pressure from habitat loss as well as being hunted for meat, and for export for the illegal pet trade. Their average lifespan is 16-20 years, although the Zoo was once home to the longest living Howler monkey in human care, Zuele, who passed away at 32 years of age.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Let your curiosity run wild! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 99th year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tigers and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Spider Monkey Habitat, the Rainforest Building, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with Giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can ride on the carousel, grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a non-profit organization approaching its 100th year at a time when the mission of helping fragile wildlife populations and ecosystems is more important than ever.

Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org; guests taking advantage of the free program for Connecticut children must also make reservations online. In accordance with the state of Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines: we recommend that guests continue to wear masks while visiting the Zoo, but when guests are outside and are able to maintain social distance, masks may be removed. In any indoor area, or when social distancing cannot be maintained, masks are required. Everyone over the age of two, with the exception of those with medical conditions that preclude wearing them, should have a mask available.

A “Larger than Life” story event, PechaKucha Night for adults is taking place on Sunday, August 29th, 2021 at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT. PechaKucha Night (PKN) Bridgeport is a free storytelling event featuring amazing tellers from CT, CA, India, and Japan who will share personal stories that are larger than life! The evening’s fun festivities will be hosted by Lauren Coakley Vincent, President, and CEO of the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District. Free tickets are available to attend the event live in person or virtually on YouTube.

The theme for this fast-paced visual in-person event at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre is “Larger than Life.” Storytellers speak with 20 photos that are projected on the big screen for 20 seconds each. PechaKucha events originated in Japan and now take place in over 1200 cities in 140 countries around the world, and Bridgeport, CT is one of them! PKN is an exciting, fun night of listening to personal stories from people across disciplines to spark conversation, new ideas, and collaborations. If you can’t make it in person, join the live stream on “YouTube” on Sunday, August 29th from 6:00 PM – 8:00PM. It’s free to attend. Doors open at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre at 5:00 PM and the PechaKucha telling will begin at 6:00 PM. to hear true personal stories on the theme

Food at the cabaret will be available for purchase from “A Pinch of Salt” Chef Raquel Rivera. Seating is open at tables in a cabaret-style setting. The Cabaret Theatre is located at 263 Golden Street #3, Bridgeport, CT.

PLEASE REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS: Register for In-Person tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridgeport-pechakucha-vol-11-larger-than-life-in-person-tickets-156996084515

Register for Virtual tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridgeport-pechakucha-vol-11-larger-than-life-virtual-tickets-157723341761

PechaKucha Night Bridgeport is organized by the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District, the Barnum Museum, City Lights Gallery, Bill Derry, and Nina Lesiga.

Metered parking is free on Sundays in downtown Bridgeport. In addition, there is a parking lot directly across from the Cabaret Theatre.