Category: Connecticut Travel

For the past forty years COCONUTS, have been entertaining audiences from Cape Cod to the Florida Keys with their unique blend of music and humor. Their show is a fast-paced mix of rock song parodies, comedy numbers, sing-alongs, and straight up rock ‘n’ roll mostly from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

COCONUTS are bringing their show to the Carousel Museum on Friday, September 21 from 7:00 – 10:30 pm. $20 tickets are on sale now and sales benefit the New England Carousel Museum. Grab a group of friends and laugh, dance and support this one of a kind organization on a one of a kind evening.

COCONUTS parodies poke gentle fun at everything from medicine and technology to the many aspects of growing older, and although geared toward a Baby Boomer crowd, their humor appeals to younger and older folk as well. Be warned: sometimes their material is a bit risqué, but it’s all in good fun. Audience participation is heartily encouraged and by the end of the night everybody is “in the band”. Comments frequently heard after a COCONUTS show are “I haven’t laughed this much in years!” and “where do guys your age get all that energy?” The three original Nuts will be joined for this special performance by the exceptional talents of Joey DeCarlo on lead guitar and Mike Savenelli on drums. So sit back and relax, then sing along and clap your hands, then get up and dance with COCONUTS!

Tickets and tables of 8 can be purchased online at www.thecarouselmuseum.org/book-online
or by calling 860-585-5411.

On Tuesday, August 14th Schwenke Auctioneers held its August Fine Estates Auction with an offering of over 400 lots of estate property which included a broad selection of Asian decorative arts, American, English and Continental furniture and decorative arts, folk art and American country furniture, early English & other sterling silver, jewelry, fine art, miscellaneous decorative arts, and estate oriental rugs. The auction was a live online sale with absentee and phone bidding, plus live internet bidding on multiple platforms including live bidding on the firm’s own software.

According to owner/auctioneer Thomas Schwenke “this auction included a number of fine pieces of American furniture brought to market after over fifty years have passed since the items were acquired by the original collectors. A prime example is the collection from the Estate of Gloria Samowitz, Stratford, Connecticut. Many of the items were purchased from the legendary Bridgeport, Connecticut dealer Harry Aarons in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Mrs. Samowitz and her husband were avid collectors who relished the documentation of their purchases and the experience of buying at shows, auctions and privately from dealers.”

In fact, the top lot of the sale was from the Samowitz collection, a rare bronze mounted rosewood classical work table, attributed to Duncan Phyfe or Charles Honore Lannuier. Dating circa 1820, the table had richly figured veneer and canted corners, applied bronze beaded detail throughout, the conforming two drawer base with original neoclassical hardware and exceptional neoclassical bronze mounts. Measuring 29 1/2″ high, 23″ wide, 17″ deep, the table was claimed at $25,400 by an internet bidder, winning out over other internet bidders and six in-house phone bidders.

The next top lot at $12,200 was a New Jersey chippendale applewood tall clock with brass dial having silver boss and chapter ring, signed “John Guild” (1749-1825). Guild lived and worked in Pennington, Ewing Township, New Jersey, which is located in the southernmost part of Hunterdon County. Guild was both a clockmaker and a silversmith, as he made silver cups as part of a communion set for the Ewing Presbyterian Church. He was the son of Reverend John Guild (1712-1787) and Charity Hunt (1721-1766). 90 1/2″ high, 17 1/2″ wide, 9 1/4″ deep. With provenance from a Connecticut collector, the clock went to one of four in-house phone bidders.
Also offered from the Samowitz estate was a very fine George III inlaid mahogany breakfront with rosette and floral/vine inlays, which fetched $4,800 from an in-house phone bidder.

Other American furniture results of note include a very fine Connecticut Chippendale cherrywood linen press, consigned by the Westchester County Historical Society, which went out at $2,400 to another in-house phone bidder. The two part press featured a dentil molded crown above two paneled doors and a three drawer base with bracket feet, with unusual rope twist corner columns, and measures 48″ wide, 79 1/2″ high, 20″ deep.

A hepplewhite serpentine sideboard “in the black” from a Wilton Connecticut estate sold for $2,300 to an in-house absentee bidder. And an unusual Stickley style 60” round rotating game or dining table fetched $2,400 from one of two determined in-house phone bidders.

English and Continental furniture also performed well. A monumental early French oak refectory table sold to an internet bidder at $2,300. The table had a cleated three plank top on a turned base with two end drawers, and measured 30″ high, 105″ long, 35 1/2″ deep, sold for a New Haven, Connecticut collector.

Also from the estate of Gloria Samowitz was a fine English tall case clock, the hood with broken arch pediment and brass mounted columns, the case with engaged quarter columns, with a painted sheet metal dial signed “Fran De La Balle, London”. The 92″ high clock sold at $2,600 to a bidder on the phone.

Other items of interest include a cased violin with label of “Gotthard Ebner Lauten 6 und Geigenmacher Music Fecit Ratisbonae 1750”. Gotthard Ebner was an 18th century German violin maker who worked c. 1723 in Hallein Austria. The violin sold together with two bows, one stamped “Glasser”, and went out to an absentee bidder at $3,200.

Many lots of Asian decorative arts were offered, and the top Asian lot was also from the Estate of Gloria Samowitz, a pair of blue and white Chinese porcelain garden seats with enameled decoration of bats, various flowers and auspicious symbols. Measuring 19″ high, 13 1/2″ diameter, the pair went out to an internet bidder at $1,800.

Oriental rugs are always offered last in the Schwenke sales. Several estate rugs were included in this auction, and the top selling rug was a Persian Heriz room size carpet, almost square at 10′ 7″ long, 9′ 2″ wide, which sold to an internet bidder at $2,800.

The firm’s next catalog auction will be held in early October and will feature several important collections including Chinese porcelain from Florida and New York City estates. Photos may be emailed to consign@woodburyauction.com or potential consignors may call 203-266-0323 to discuss consignments.

Goat yoga has become a popular activity at Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust and this month Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury will be holding two September morning sessions of goat yoga especially for preschoolers and their caretakers so they too can get in on the fun! Adorable Nigerian dwarf goats will be frolicking & cuddling with your child at this one-hour gentle stretch and movement outdoor class held at the picturesque Van Vleck Farm.

Please keep in mind that you’ll be practicing with live animals and some degree of messiness (and a LOT of silliness) may be involved! Dress yourselves and your child accordingly and bring along a yoga mat or towel to sit on.

In the case of inclement weather, there will be an art project, story, or age appropriate barnyard activity held inside the barn instead.

Preschool goat yoga sessions are being held on Monday, September 17 and 24th. Activities will be based at the Flanders North Barn located at 644 Flanders Road in Woodbury from 9:30 to 10:30. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $10 for child and caregiver for those who are Flanders members and $20 for non-members with proceeds supporting the farming program.

Space is limited so those interested must register online at http://www.flandersnaturecenter.org or call 203-263-3711, ext. 10, for more information.

Presented as a unique opportunity for all young children to experience and learn about farm animals close up, the program is just one of the preschool program offerings held at Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust during the year. You can find a full listing of all the programs for kids and adults by visiting their website or on their Facebook page.

Each season the Norfolk Historical Society organizes a major exhibition, and this summer’s exhibit displays the photography of Marie Hartig Kendall from 1854 when few women practiced this art form.

Kendall, a self-taught photographer moved to Norfolk with her husband in 1878 where she opened her photography business. She took many images of life in Norfolk showcasing its development, natural beauty, the relationship of the people living in this town to the landscape and the surrounding environment.

This exhibition includes many notable images such as the photo of Sarah Bishop’s Cave, a landmark on West Mountain. Bishop was a hermit that escaped to this cave after the Revolutionary War until her death. Another image, the facade of the Norfolk Public Library with its barrel tile roof, scalloped shingles and window boxes overflowing with summer flowers shows the bucolic aspect of Norfolk that the town still exudes today.

Other images capture locomotives, historic weather events, economic development and bucolic pastimes as the town flourished as a summer resort at the turn of the century. Images include those that won her top honors at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Marie Kendall Exhibition runs weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through Columbus Day at the Norfolk Historical Society located on 13 Village Green.

The final day of the 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival is today. Today is also Family Day- kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Unlimited ride wristband available for $25 from 11 am – 3 pm. Visit magic shows in Kids Cove, check out the Lumberjack and Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show, explore the arts and crafts area with 100 plus vendors, and the International Food Court where you can have a lobster dinner and much more. Take a ride on the 65-foot gondola Ferris wheel for a birds-eye view of the fun.

The Connecticut National Guard 102 Army Band performs at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage. The Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band plugin on the Main Stage at 4 p.m. Join the party with Jimmy Kenny in your best Parrothead gear and celebrate summer fun @ the 2018 Oyster Festival!

At the Heineken Entertainment Tent, the Sunday line-up starts with the award-winning Silver Steel Band that takes the stage at 12 noon sharp. Get ready for a trip to the Caribbean when this band starts to play some of their favorite styled music from Trinidad and Tobago as well as Soca and Calypso, Rock, Latin and your Disney Favorites! At 1 p.m. get ready for the music of the vibrant, high energy band called the Juicy Grapes. This popular band has been performing high energy funk, rock, and soul since the late ’90s . Get ready to be wowed by the young musicians from The Paul Green Rock Academy who take the stage at 2 p.m. For a change of pace, the Summertime Band will take you back to the 50s and 60s with Swing, Doo Wop and classic rock tunes at 3 p.m. Next on tap is Bobby T’s All-Star at 4 p.m. and is followed by RD3 at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. the dynamic Ratso and Friends will be belting out blues that is sure to charm the audience. The final performers of the night the Norwalk Oyster Festival is Logical Pretzel at 7 p.m.

Tickets

The event is held at Veterans Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children 5-12 year’s old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.

Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those that want to take the train, Metro-North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk City Hall, and Norwalk Community College.

Three days of fun, food, entertainment on multiple stages, plus special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities to be found at the 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Seaport Association on Friday, September 7, Saturday, September 8, and Sunday, September 9, 2018 at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk.

At 7 p.m. on the Main Stage Moriah Formica, a top 20 contestant on Season 13 of The Voice will take the stage at 7 p.m. She has played with several national touring acts and has released her debut EP, Bring It On.

On September 8 at 8 p.m. Festival Headliner, Steve Augeri, Journey, the former lead singer takes the Main Stage and will take festival-goers on a “journey” well worth taking. Expect fan friendly audience interactions, a strong stage presence, soaring vocals and hit after hit of iconic classic rock songs like Don’t Stop Believing, Anyway You Want It, Faithfully, Loving, Touching, Feeling and many other hits. Fans may even be in for an exclusive treat if Augeri decides to include an original new song or two in the mix that has thrilled audiences worldwide.

On the Heineken Stage, the music begins at 12 noon sharp with Rubber Band whose song list covers a very wide range of music and time periods. MN8 takes the stage at 1 p.m. with music that is sure to get the audience moving. For a change of pace, Joni and the Keepers take the stage at 2 p.m. Singer-songwriter Joni Wallace and the Keepers bring to the stage acoustic music from top female artists. A true Milford ‘supergroup’ formed in summer 2014 The Void takes the stage at 3 p.m. This band brings members of Inside/Out, Murray The Wheel, The Barrelhouse Boys, and more. If you like the blues you are in for a treat when the Jay Willie Blues Band takes the stage at 4 p.m. with music steeped in lyrical emotion and sultry melodies that are open to endless improvisations bothy lyrically and musically. At 5 p.m. The Cold Ones will rock your world with high energy rock and roll. Their style is influenced by a range of bands from the Black Crowes and Aerosmith to Lady Gaga, Rihanna to Kansas, Bush, and Puddle of Mud. The evening starts with the Gunn Street Revival Band at 6 p.m. whose musical tastes range from the 60s to the 90s. For a Saturday night adrenaline, audiences will groove to the sounds of this premier party rock cover band, Bad Boy at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. experience the vibrant sound of Neo Sound, that is composed of a diverse group of musicians connected through a shared desire to create a stage show that captivates their audience. The final band to take the stage at 9 p.m. is Killer D.

Tickets

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children 5-12 year’s old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.

Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those that want to take the train, Metro-North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk City Hall, and Norwalk Community College.