Category: Connecticut Travel

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King & I and The Sound of Music, will play the Palace Theater in Waterbury February 24 – 26 for four performances, including two matinees. Tickets for CINDERELLA can be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St.

Adding to the fun for families attending one of the matinee performances either on Saturday February 25 at 2:00pm or Sunday, February 26 at 1:00pm, the Palace is hosting Princess Parties beforehand to enhance the magical experience. The Palace Princess will be on hand to greet young audience members dressed for the ball and pose with them for selfies. A complimentary treat and beverage is also part of this pre-show activity which begins one hour before each matinee’s curtain time.

With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA combines the story’s classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn’t let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too.

Another fun promotion leading up to the show’s engagement entitled” If the Shoe Fits” allows all ticket buyers a chance to enter a drawing to win a Date Night gift package filled with some fabulous treats including:

Drive a BMW for the weekend Courtesy of Hoffman BMW of Watertown
Dine in Style with an Entrees & Encores restaurant Gift Card –$75 value compliments of one of the theater’s Entrees & Encores partner restaurants
Floral Bouquet – Compliments of Graham’s Florist
Sweets for Your Sweetie – compliments of Hardcore Sweet Cupcake

All ticket buyers (regardless of when or how you purchased your tickets) are eligible to be entered into a random drawing for the Cinderella Date Night Package.

To enter, participants with a valid ticket must come to the Palace Box Office to try on the “Glass Slipper” courtesy of Kathy Faber Designs, have picture taken trying on the shoe, post the photo on either Facebook or Instagram, and tag the Palace Theater. A random drawing will take place the week of February 20 and the winner of the Date Night gift package notified.

Ever wonder what passes by your house when you are not around? Learn about the fascinating world of animal tracking when Flanders hosts Connecticut Conservation Ambassador Michael Grady who will lead a program on Saturday, February 18 at 12:30 PM.at Flanders Nature Center located in Woodbury on Flanders Road. Michael will introduce his talk in the Flanders Sugar House, located a quarter mile from the intersection of Church Hill and Flanders Road in Woodbury.

The group will then move outside to the trails of the Flanders Van Vleck Sanctuary where they will search for and identify tracks, signs and scat of the local wildlife. Please dress for the weather. The cost for the tracking workshop is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Those interested may register online at http://www.flandersnaturecenter.org or call 203-263-3711, ext. 10, for more information.

About
Flanders Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust acquires, preserves and manages land; and uses the land to promote understanding and appreciation of nature, art and the environment. Founded by artist, farmer and environmentalist Natalie Van Vleck, Flanders provides a variety of environmental education programs year-round, designed to bring a deeper understanding of art, nature and farming to children, youth and adults in the Woodbury region and throughout Connecticut.

The Westport Historical Society has organized a new exhibition, “Westport School Days 1703-Present” in the Sheffer Gallery that will run through March 24, 2017.This exhibit highlights the evolution of formal education in Westport. The story begins with the 1650 Code of Connecticut which describes the educational requirements for the parishes in Connecticut. Beginning with the first formal teacher in Green’s Farms in 1703; the exhibit will chronicle what the eight public and several private schools of Westport were like.

There will be a progression map from 1858-2016 detailing each school’s earliest location and development. A brief history of the benefactors who initiated new schools, memorabilia, and early photos will also be displayed. Group photos of student classes from the late nineteenth century to the present day will also be highlighted.

This comprehensive exhibit will include lively tours of Westport’s own Adams Academy, on North Morningside Drive, which was built in 1830 as a private school, and shows you an actual one-room schoolhouse which exemplifies early education in our community. Westport Historical Society hopes this exhibit will bring back many fond memories, as well as focus on Westport’s growth as an exceptional center for learning.

The Sheffer Gallery is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm. Saturdays from Noon – 4 pm. There is no charge, however donations are always welcome.

Tired of the same old options for Valentine’s Day? Litchfield Jazz has the answer! This February, the Litchfield Performing Arts, organizers of the popular Litchfield Jazz Festival held every August has teamed up with the one of the the newest and hippest attractions in Northwest Connecticut, the Litchfield Hills Distillery for a special Valentine’s Day celebration on February 11 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The chic and comfortable Litchfield Hills Distillery sets the perfect scene for this romantic celebration where guests will enjoy a special Litchfield Distillery Signature Cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, dinner; and of course, great live jazz for listening and dancing. Take a tour of the distillery while enjoying top-shelf wines and get into the “spirit” with a select tasting of the products carefully crafted at Litchfield Hills Distillery. Ciesco Catering will prepare a delicious meal wrapped up with chocolates from the iconic Fascia’s Chocolates of Waterbury. What would Valentine’s be without roses? There will be one for each guest!

In addition to the music, food and spirits, there will also be a silent auction so don’t worry about shopping in advance. Do your gift giving on the spot! Couples, singles and friends are all welcome. This is an equal-opportunity great time to get in the Spirits of Love this Valentine’s Day with Litchfield Jazz.

Proceeds support music education and scholarships at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. 50% of your ticket purchase is tax deductible.
Tickets are sold online.

In February, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village, CT will feature Air, Land, and Sky, an exhibit of paintings by Sarah Martinez. A reception with refreshments for the artist will be held on Friday February 10 from 5 to 7pm. This event is free and open to the public. For more information about the artist or to inquire about sales, please contact the library at 860-824-7424, drop by at 63 Main St in Falls Village, or visit huntlibrary.org.

Sarah Martinez was born and raised in northwest Connecticut, studied art and philosophy at Université Concordia in Montréal, honed her craft in Brooklyn, NY, and then returned home to the Litchfield Hills. Here she works as a painter creating both abstract acrylic works as well as watercolor and ink illustrations for image licensing and archival prints. In her abstract work, Sarah uses primarily acrylic paint and palette knifes laying thick bursts of color in moments of serenity and storm. These paintings are clearly intuitive, allowing an atmosphere to emerge through playful eruptions of color and markings. Her watercolor and ink work focuses on the natural world, these paintings are most often representational in form yet surreal and whimsical in the use of color.

Sarah works from her home studio in Falls Village, CT where she lives with her husband and two young sons. Sarah’s original artwork is represented by The White Gallery in Lakeville, CT. Her watercolor and ink work can be found online through her shop Snoogs & Wilde Art as well through various retail collaborations including Papyrus Paper Company and Urban Outfitters.

A portion of all sales in this exhibit benefit the David M. Hunt Library.

This Valentine’s weekend, swap a floral bouquet of anemones for a visit with sea anemones – and seals, sharks and other sea creatures – by giving your marine-animal-loving sweetheart a special behind-the-scenes experience in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

On Sat., Feb. 11, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is putting a special twist on its popular “Feeding Time” program by opening the session only to couples age 18 and older, and sending everyone home with a box of chocolates.

“Feeding Time” gives participants special access to some of their favorite Maritime Aquarium animals by letting them join educators and the animal-husbandry staff during morning feedings. Feel the vacuuming power on your palm of a ray at the Shark & Ray Touch Pool. Hand-feed a horseshoe crab and diamondback terrapin. And go above the Aquarium’s 110,000-gallon Ocean Beyond the Sound exhibit to watch as Aquarium staff feeds the 7-foot sharks prowling just below your feet. Toss in some bonus food for the sharks, as well as for the exhibit’s rays and other fish.

Plus, attend a private seal feeding open only to “Feeding Time” couples.

“Feeding Time” starts at 8 a.m. with a light breakfast for participants in the Aquarium café. And, for this Valentine’s-weekend session, each couple goes home with a box of specialty chocolates from Forever Sweet Bakery in Norwalk.

Cost of the “Valentine’s Feeding Time” on Sat., Feb. 11 is $135 per couple ($120 for Aquarium members). Aquarium admission at 10 a.m. is included.

Advance registration is required. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, or register online at www.maritimeaquarium.org under “Public Programs.”