Category: Connecticut Travel

In October the David M. Hunt Library located on 63 Main Street in Falls Village will host artist Robert Cronin’s self-curated exhibit, “Now ‘n Then” featuring a small selection of his artworks from various years within his very full career. The exhibit will be in on display through Saturday, October, 29.

Mr. Cronin recently turned 80 and, as many know from his Facebook postings, he offers a look at work from various years throughout his career, both abstract and figurative. Lately there are the minimalist paintings on paper in solid colors. In reference to how many pieces he may have in a given series, he said “Some series of paintings through the years are not extensive enough for full exhibitions but can be just as good as those that go on and on.”

At his 80th Birthday Party, a private affair hosted by Mary O’Brien at her now-closed restaurant, Chaiwalla, in Salisbury, Mr. Cronin had selected work to suit the occasion–one piece each from certain series throughout his career. “Now ‘n Then” offers various examples of paintings from such histories over a span of sixty years including student works from R.I.S.D. in the late 1950s, a unique collage/combine from his MFA days at Cornell University in 1961, a small series of strictly black and white oil paintings from 2010 which were done between a larger group of imaginary still life paintings and a following group of minimalist color paintings. Going further through the present, there will be a few very small framed color works from 2011 which were the beginnings of a much larger commitment. Unframed works on paper will round out the exhibit.

Public high points in Mr. Cronin’s career started when he moved to Manhattan in 1980 and lived there until he moved in June 1987 to Connecticut. In those years Cronin was well received with six one-man exhibitions in NYC as well as in England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and Canada. Notable top level exhibitions include a fine show again at the Zabriskie Gallery in NYC in 2007. He muses….”There is still a hopeful feeling that it could always happen again”.

Robert Cronin’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Brooklyn Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Worcester Art Museum, the National Academy and the National Air and Space Museum in D.C., among others. He was awarded two Massachusetts Artists Foundation Grants in the 1970s, an Individual Support Grant from the Gottlieb Foundation in 1991 and in 2008 won First Prize in the Member’s Exhibition at the Washington Art Association in Washington Depot, Ct.

As the sun sets, the spirits come out to play… Take a lantern-lit tour through the old Mill Hill graveyard at the Norwalk Historical Society’s 6th annual, “A Haunting at Mill Hill”, Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2016. Mill Hill is located at 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT.

Listen to NEW chilling tales from eerie Norwalk spirits at 6:00pm, 7:30pm & 9:00pm. Each tour is approximately 1 hour. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at http://www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, starting October 1st. Early bird tickets are available through October 19th. Refreshments follow each tour in the historic 1826 “Little Red Schoolhouse”. Bring a flashlight and a friend! Not recommended for children under 8 years old.

Among the crooked stones of Mill Hill, the ghostly entities are waiting to share their stories of death, murder, destruction and mayhem. Norwalk mobster and murder victim, Luigi Apicella and rabies victim, Myron Olmstead, will be a couple of the ghosts you will meet from Norwalk’s colorful past. All the stories are true and researched by local historians, Madeleine and Ed Eckert.

Watch your back, as you make your way through the graveyard… new ghostly thrills will await you! Local haunted house and special effects experts Greg Kling and George Holomakoff have joined the Haunting team to incorporate a few bone-chilling surprises!

Ticket sales begin October 1, 2016 online at www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Early bird tickets available through October 19th – Adults/Teen: $15.00 & Child (8-12): $10.00. Tickets purchased after October 19th or at the door (if available) – Adults/Teens: $18.00 & Child (8-12): $12.00. The net proceeds support the Norwalk Historical Society’s education programs and museum exhibits. The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

For more information visit www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, e-mail info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org , or call 203-846-0525. For more area information and to sign up for a monthly newsletter www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

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 22. 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 purchased in advance are $10 per person or $5 for children 5-12. Tickets may be purchased at the Glebe House in person or by calling (203)263-2855; you can also send a check to: The Glebe House Museum. PO Box 245, Woodbury, CT 06798.

Howl-O-Ween is an annual Halloween themed event at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. This family fun event takes place on Oct. 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29 from 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

This family-oriented event features activities and attractions geared toward children from 8-15, although brave youngsters have found the event to be quite enjoyable.

For the more timid, there are events such as magic shows, face painting, fortune tellers, dancers and more. Braver children (and parents!) can enter the zoo’s special haunted attractions: The Haunted Hayride, Farmer Beardsley’s Farmstead, and the Ghastly Greenhouse.

Tickets for this event are $12 presale and for Zoo members and $15 on the night of the event. The ticket purchase includes two haunted houses, a haunted hayride, all performances, face painting, carousel rides and more. Food and beverages are not included, but are available at the Zoo’s Peacock Cafe during the event. Parking at the zoo is free!

For tickets and more information http://www.beardsleyzoo.com/howl-o-ween. For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Sharon Historical Society & Museum and The Gallery @the SHS located on 18 Main Street in Sharon is pleased to welcome the public to a The Artists Talk! program on Sunday, October 9th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Exhibiting artists Zelina Blagden, Karen LeSage, Ellen Moon, Catherine Noren and Sally Pettus will discuss their work and their processes, motivations, influences, and experiences in creating the pieces on display in the current show,Distaff in Sharon: A Tribute to Melva Bucksbaum.

The exhibit drew its inspiration from the groundbreaking 2013 show The Distaff Side curated by Ms. Bucksbaum at the Granary in Sharon and features work by local women artists. In addition to the work of those participating in the October 9 event, the show also includes art by Debra Bilow, Tina Chandler and Kate Stiassni. This will be an informal interactive program during which those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions.

The event is free and light refreshments will be served. Distaff in Sharon: A Tribute to Melva Bucksbaum continues in the Gallery @the
SHS through October 28th during regular SHS
hours.

The Gallery @the SHS is in the Sharon Historical Society & Museum located at 18 Main Street, Route 41, Sharon, CT. The Gallery and Museum are open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 4:00 PM, and Saturday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Visit the SHS website at www.sharonhist.org. For more information call 860-364-5688 and consult the SHS Facebook page for additional details about this event.

To sign up for a newsletter on Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County and for more area event information www.litchfieldhills.com

Autumn has arrived in the Litchfield Hills and what better way to celebrate the firecolors of the season than at the largest nature sanctuary in the state of Connecticut – White Memorial Foundation located in Litchfield right off of Rte. 202. On October 7 at 7 p.m. for example spend a cozy evening with Icelandic recording artist Svavar Knútur. Hailing from the harsh Icelandic western fjords, Icelandic Troubadour Svavar Knútur, summons his inner demons and outer storms to reflect upon the existential crises and frolicking joys of modern day rustic fjord dwelling men. Channeling the pain and angst of long dark winters and the insomnia of the 24 hour glaring summer sun, this eclectic musician has in recent years blossomed into a serene and sublime singer and songwriter. Knutur’s songs of misery and redemption deliver a healthy dose of hope in the midst of despair. A humoristic storyteller and avid scuba diver into the murky waters of the human condition, Svavar Knútur, sows and reeps a fantastic mixture of art and entertainment. Drawing upon a wide range of influences, three of Svavar Knutur’s most governing ones are without doubt Nick Drake, Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy) and Kris Kristofferson, although such artists as Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Nick Cave and many more singer/songwriters have contributed to the Icelandic troubadour’s development. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll buy his CD’s and you’ll anticipate his return! All tickets; $20.00, Coffee and dessert will be served at the show. BYOB. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. You can buy your tickets online: www.whitememorialcc.org.

On October 8 learn the basics of mushroom identification with David Paton. The program begins with a brief introduction in the Ceder Room to view some specimens. 10:00 A.M., A. B. Ceder Room, Dress for the weather! Members: $20.00, Non-members: $30.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Class is limited to 30 participants! Sign up early! And, please remember that foraging is not allowed on Foundation property!
am Velez returns to the Conservation Center on October 9 at 2 p.m. in the A. B. Ceder Room with an encore presentation of basic digital photography. You will learn the basics of manual exposure for digital photography, how to use your camera’s settings to get more creative photos, tips on focusing, composition, and more. The class begins indoors and will end up outdoors for hands-on learning. Bring your camera, instruction booklet, and ideas. The class is limited to 10 participants. Rain or shine. Members: $15.00 Non-members: $20.00. A portion of your fee will be donated to The Conservation Center. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

If you have a desire to walk with llama’s don’t miss your chance to do this on October 9 and on October 16,23 at 2 p.m. with Debbie Labbe from Country Quilt Llama Farm. The cost is $20 per person with a percentage donated to the White Memorial Conservation Center. Meet in the Museum parking lot. Call Debbie from Country Quilt Llama Farm at 860-248-0355 to pre-register.

Kids 12 and under when accompanied by an adult get into White Memorial Foundation during the week of October 12 -18 making this an excellent time to discover all the Foundation has to offer.

A new photography show by Leo Kulinski, Jr is going up beginning on October 15 and running through January 1, 2017. There will be a reception on Ocotber 15 at 4 pm. Kulinski has been White Memorial’s court photographer for years. Expect breathtaking images of Apple Hill, whales, the moon, musicians, his beloved white-tailed deer, Veronica the Red-tailed Hawk, and the stories behind the images.

An “amazing race” has been scheduled for October 22 that will take participants to 13 landmarks throughout the sanctuary! At each station you will collect a token, take a selfie, and head to the finish line victorious! You may participate as an individual, family, or team. Each participant will be given a trail map and official bandana. Check in is at 9:00 A.M. and they’re offffff at 10:00 A.M. Prizes will be given for each category and awarded at a dinner in the Activity Shed later in the day. Rain or shine! 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Registration fee: Members: Individual: $25.00 Member: Family or Team: $40.00, Non-Members: Individual: $35.00, Non-Member: Family or Team: $50.00 Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

The popular “star party” is back on October 28 at 7 p.m. in the A.B. Ceder Room that is organized by members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society. The topic is “Comets”. Weather permitting, there will be Star gazing after the program. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

To close out the month, White Memorial is hosting its second annual Super Spooky Halloween Walk with Gerri and Bradley the Wonder Dog! Celebrate Halloween by dressing up yourself and your four-legged best friend for a stroll along the Pine Island Trail to Little Pond and then onto the Litchfield Greenway via Gallows Lane (chills) passing the cemetery (BOO!) and finishing up at Mallard Marsh. Look for signs of life and a good deal of pointing and staring along the way! All dogs must be on leads! Spooky treats for everybody after the walk! 12:00 P.M., Meet in front of the A. B. Ceder Room! The program is free but you must register by calling 860-567-0857.

For more area information on Litchfield Hills and to sign up for our monthly newsletter www.litchfieldhills.com