Category: Connecticut Travel

Rustic breads of mixed grain meals and flours formed an early American baking tradition. Thirded bread was one-third wheat, one-third Indian meal (corn/maize) and one-third rye. With the addition of pumpkin, this Early American “make do” recipe was a type of Boston brown bread. On Saturday, October 28 from 11:00 – 12:30 the Wilton Historical Society will be holding a Colonial Cookery and Customs Workshop for Kids, and the focus will be on the daily task of making bread. Museum Educator Lola Chen will be showing the children how to make Thirded Bread with Spiced Pompion (pumpkin), and sampling some fresh and warm from the oven.

The Colonial Cookery and Customs for Kids workshop at the Wilton Historical Society teaches kids a “reciept” (recipe) used in the Connecticut region. While the food is prepared, they hear about Colonial manners, morals, and way of life. The monthly workshops feature relatively simple dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients, adapted for modern kitchens. All participants will sample their own cooking and take home recipe cards – as well as any leftovers! The children will learn how a Colonial kitchen would have operated, in order to appreciate the modern conveniences we take for granted. Previous sessions have made bannock cakes, pease porridge, pickles, an amulet of green peas, apple tansey, fairy butter, pumpkin bread, cranberry shortbread, New Year’s “cakes”, New England chowder, hand pies, cheese and ramp soufflé, and pea and watercress Rappahannock, and blackberry maslin. Suggested for ages 6 – 12.

Members: $10; Non-members $15. Space is limited — please register by contacting info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257.
The Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road/Rt. 7, Wilton, CT 06897 http://www.wiltonhistorical.org

Did You Know?
After our Revolution, pearlash-leavened thirded bread became popular throughout the Colonies, particularly one known today as Boston brown bread. Since that time, the bread’s fundamental elements have not changed: rye meal, cornmeal, and graham flour mixed with water—later milk or buttermilk—and molasses and baked in a mold. There are hundreds of variations on classic thirded bread, but the basic elements of rye, wheat, corn, cane, and pumpkin appear in different iterations throughout the vast scape of recipes over the last four centuries. The triple-blend concept was not new to America. In 1792, some Parisian bakers were baking “Bread of Equality,” a combination of brown, white and rye grains.

The Washington Art Association & Gallery located in 4 Bryan Plaza in Washington Depot is pleased to present “On The Edge,” an exhibition featuring monoprints by John Thompson through November 10.

John’s work has always reflected his keen interest in the natural world. Today, he is finding it increasingly important to be making images that speak to the fragility of our world. His concerns about the climate crisis compel him to find and appreciate the fleeting beauty and sanctity of our natural environment. Our world is precious and we should celebrate what surrounds. We need to cherish what we have and fight to keep what might be lost.

John teaches printmaking at Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Framingham State University, Danforth Museum, The Washington Art Association & Gallery, and other workshops in the region. He also works with master printers: Peter Pettengill at Wingate Studio, Hinsdale, NH, and Susan Oehme of Oehme Graphics, Steamboat Springs, CO.

The New England Carousel Museum is throwing its second annual Zombie Ball on Friday, October 27, 2017 in celebration of the Halloween season, this time with the help of the Central Connecticut Chambers’ Young Professional Organization, PYVOT. This 21-plus event begins at 8:00 PM with a Coney Island Freak Show in honor of the exhibit INK: The History and Ritual of Tattoo & Body Art.

The ghastly evening continues as the undead make their way up to our haunted ballroom at 9:00PM for dancing and other spooktacular festivities. Toast the witching hour with us when the clock strikes midnight, as this hair-raising party goes until 1:00AM. Come in your zombie best or other spooky attire, all costumes are welcome -however, zombies are highly encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes, zombie and otherwise. This is a BYOB event, with snacks, a candy bar, and local fare available throughout the evening. There will also be tarot card readings, photos with Leo the lion & henna tattoos. Some food and activities may require a small additional fee. Don’t miss the fun!

Admission to this event is $20 per person or $25 at the door. Coming in a group? Tables of 8 may be reserved in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets call 860-585-5411 or visit http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org.

Join The Barnum Museum for a fascinating—and slightly macabre—Wicked Walk lantern stroll of historic downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut, led by author-historian-lecturer Michael Bielawa. October provides the perfect time to visit scenes of suspected hauntings, Victorian-era murders, and unexplained phenomena. Remarkably, these mysteries and mysterious sites are centrally located and within easy walking distance. Join Mr.
Bielawa for a one-hour tour, as he sheds light on some of New England’s strangest and eeriest tales!

The evening tours will be offered on two dates: Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27, 2017 at 6:30pm. Tickets should be purchased at least a day in advance; group size is limited, so early reservations are suggested. Tickets are $5 per person for Barnum Museum members, and $15 for others. Please note that this program is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

The program begins in the People’s United Bank Gallery located at the rear of The Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street in Bridgeport. Please plan to arrive at 6:30 pm, so that the tour can leave by 6:45 pm. Bring a camera if you wish, as the author encourages participants to take photographs in order to help document the area’s paranormal activity. Participants may return to the museum after the walk for cider and refreshments. Mr. Bielawa will also sign copies of his books.

Michael Bielawa is versed in the paranormal. He continually studies, and uncovers, haunting tales of southern New England’s shadowy past. These tales are based on fact, and have been documented through research at regional libraries, historical societies, through old documents, and personal interviews. Mr. Bielawa is the author of the award-winning books, Wicked Bridgeport and Wicked New Haven. His essays on the supernatural have appeared in FATE Magazine and Fortean Times. Mr. Bielawa has appeared on WTNH Channel 8’s Connecticut Style and Good Morning Connecticut segments and on WPLR, WICC, NPR, WABC-AM as well as various other programs.

Please call (203) 331-1104 ext. 100 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, if you have any questions.

Whether you like tricks or treats for Halloween, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum has a Halloween event for you. The Museum is inviting visitors of all ages to celebrate Halloween by exploring the darker history of this iconic landmark with vampires and ghost tour. All proceeds will benefit the Museum’s educational and cultural programs.

Ghostly Sightings Tours October 20, 21,22,27,28 and 29 and run from 5 p.m. to 8 pm. The 5 pm and 5:30 tours are children friendly. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

This year the tours will feature a troupe of living history volunteers. The Witches, Vampires, & Ghosts Tours at the Mansion will highlight the history of witchcraft, from colonial times to the Victorian era, the New England Vampire Panic, the darker Mansion history, and real life ghostly sightings.The Ghostly Sightings Tours are $20 per person.
The tours will take place inside the Mansion cloaked in darkness, on the first and second floors, where interpreters, dressed in costume, will lead visitors by candlelight and share the haunting history of Connecticut’s witch-hunts and their famed trials. Tours will expose how The New England Vampire Panic began and reveal several ghost sightings that have taken place at the Mansion in the past several decades.

Ghosts, Vampires, and Witches will share center stage with the Mansion’s interpreters during these very spooky tours. As doors open and close, rooms are entered and left behind, visitors can expect the unexpected. Ticket buyers beware…visitors may run into a Victorian era witch, vampire, or ghost, but only during these very special and spooky Halloween tours.

About Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark located at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk. Tours are offered Wednesdays through Sundays, at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admittance is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children. Children under 8 are admitted free. For more information on tours and programs, visit http://www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

As the leaves are changing color and the hint of the first frost is in the air get ready to celebrate autumn at the All Hollows Event event hosted by the Glebe House located on Hollow Road in Woodbury on Saturday, October 21.

This celebration takes place during the witching hours of 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Ghosts, goblins, and assorted scary creatures will be on hand along Hollow Road, following a path lit by over 300 luminaries, some of Woodbury’s earliest citizens will come back from the dead to lead mystery tours of the nearby Ancient Burying Grounds.

Besides touring the cemetery, visitors should plan to enter the Haunted Glebe House to experience a spine tingling tour with the home’s frightening inhabitants and have a tarot card reading from Madame Suzolo. Complimentary refreshments of hot chocolate, cider and autumn treats will warm up our guests on this fall evening.

Parking for the evening will be in Hollow Park, whose entrance is next to the Glebe House. Only a limited number of tickets are available. Tickets in advance are $10 per person and $22 per family and may be purchased at the museum-49 Hollow Road in Woodbury or call at 203-263-2855 or mail at PO Box 245 Woodbury, CT 06798. At the door tickets are $12 per person.

The rain date is October 28.