Category: Connecticut Travel

Cruise out for the chance to see some of the seals and waterfowl that spend their winters in Long Island Sound during Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises offered this winter by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. These invigorating 2½-hour outings take place aboard the Aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound™, the country’s only research vessel with hybrid-electric propulsion.

The cruises seek out the harbor seals and gray seals that migrate down into the Sound from northern waters, which serve as their summer breeding and pupping areas. Seals often can be seen near the Norwalk islands when they “haul out” to rest on rocks exposed at low tide. Aquarium educators will point out these federally protected marine mammals and talk about their natural histories. And they’ll also generally discuss what happens to the Sound’s marine population during the winter: who stays, who migrates out, and who migrates in (besides the seals).

“As exciting as it is to see the seals that are exhibited inside The Maritime Aquarium, it’s truly a memorable experience to see them out in Long Island Sound,” said Tom Naiman, the Aquarium’s director of education. “Those encounters also remind us how important the Sound is as a habitat for our marine-mammal friends, and all the other creatures that call it home.”

These cruises also give birders unique “on-the-water” access to see and photograph visiting winter waterfowl, such as buffleheads, mergansers, Brant geese and long-tailed ducks. Plus, cruise participants can help Aquarium educators with plankton samplings. Data collected during the cruises is added to the Long Island Sound Biodiversity Project, which is an ongoing census of the Sound’s animal species.

This online database is sponsored by the Aquarium and includes students in collecting data on the physical and biological contents of Long Island Sound. Binoculars will be provided. R/V Spirit of the Sound has a climate-controlled cabin but, because the best viewing is outside on the deck, participants should bring plenty of warm clothes.

The cruises offer memorable family fun but please note that all passengers must be at least 42 inches tall. Tickets for a Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruise are $24.95, or $19.95 for Aquarium members. Capacity is limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting. Reserve your spot by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, or by going online to http://www.maritimeaquarium.org.

Cruises are offered: Sun., March 13 – 1 p.m. Sat., March 19 – 1 p.m. Sun., March 20 – 2 p.m. Sun., April 3 – 1 p.m.

The public will have the opportunity to experience an exhibition tour and page turning of rare books during a special event, Folios First: Uncovering Shakespeare, on Saturday, March 12, 2016, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Pequot Library. This program is free and open to the public, with registration encouraged online at pequotlibrary.org.

The term “folio,”, is a term for a common method of arranging sheets of paper into book form. Shakespeare folios from the earliest days of printing were often used for expensive, prestigious volumes. In the Seventeenth Century, plays of the English Renaissance theatre were printed as collected editions in folio. Thirty-six of Shakespeare’s plays were included in the First Folio collected edition of 1623, which was followed by additional folio editions, referred to as the Second Folio, etc. This year celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and Pequot Library created a three-month exhibition to commemorate this anniversary.

For one night only, join Pequot Library to see its Shakespeare Folio collection from the 1600s and explore Uncovering Shakespeare, an exhibition containing historic Pequot Library material from its Special Collections written by and related to Shakespeare and his work. The materials on view March 12 and in this exhibition have not been seen at Pequot Library for at least a quarter of a century.

Take a night to see why Shakespeare’s Folios are so wonderful; look at King Lear and Othello from the First Folio, and complete Second, Third, and Fourth Folios all printed in the 1600s and bequeathed to Pequot Library by Dean Edmonds in the 1970s. Enjoy customized insights by Director, Heather-Marie Montilla, and Special Collections Consultant, Elizabeth Beaudin, PhD, as they tour the public through Pequot Library’s Perkin Gallery and Reading Room, while conducting page turnings of the rare book material.

Please visit http://www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15. For more area information www.visitwesternct.com

The Palace Theater and Waterbury Neighborhood Council present the return of their third CONNfection event, a showcase featuring Connecticut made food, wine and craft beer, on Wednesday, Mar. 9, from 5:30p.m. – 8:30p.m. at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased by phone at 203-346-2000, online at www.palacetheaterct.org, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St. in Waterbury.

CONNfection attendees will have the delight of sampling some of the best locally sourced products that Connecticut has to offer, including pastas, sausages, artisanal breads, gourmet olive oils, smoked cheeses, specialty condiments, cookies, chocolates, cupcakes and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to sample an array of craft beers and fine wines from a variety of local breweries and vineyards.

Vendors scheduled to appear at this year’s event include 1249 Restaurant, Black Hog Brewery, Brass Works Brewing Company, Carrott Top Kitchens, The Cheesy Smoke House, Dottie’s Diner, Emelyn Sweets, Fascia’s Chocolates, Gift Baskets Galore, Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes, Hogan’s Cider Mill, Polly & Joan’s Cordial Company, Provender Catering, The Olive Oil Factory, The Pasta Gallery, Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Sweet Confections by Regina, Sweet Maria’s Bakery and others.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

March is a busy time at White Memorial Foundation as spring is anticipated. The month begins with a Children’s free week from March 2 – 8 and again from March 23-29; admission for kids ages twelve and under get in free when accompanied by an adult. After School adventures are also planned for every Wednesday in March for grades 1-3 and on Tuesdays for grades 4-6. Bring your kids out to White Memorial for programs designed to awaken curiosity and foster an appreciation for the natural world. Every session brings a new adventure, whether it’s exploring a new part of White Memorial property, meeting a live animal, or taking part in an outdoor activity. Join them for an afternoon of experiential learning in the outdoors. Parents are welcome to stay, but it is not necessary. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. 3:45-5pm. Advanced registration is required. To register, please call 860-567-0857 or visit http://www.whitememorialcc.org. Members: $8/child per session or $28/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $48/whole series.

For outdoor enthusiasts, out of hibernation and stretch your legs along the beautiful trails which meander through this beautiful natural area on March 5. Dress for the weather! 10:00 A.M. Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. Free…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses. March 6 offers an opportunity to join up with Three Red Trees School of Natural Living. Andrew Dobos and Deneen Bernier take you on a wildlife tracking walk through the winter woods. There are always clues left behind by the animals to decipher, telling a story of their habits and lives. Get to know our beloved wildlife that much better. Children should be accompanied by an adult and all should dress extra warm and wear good boots! You never know where the animals have been! 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.. Meet in front of the Museum. Free, but donations accepted.

On March 12, you are invited to spend an evening full of beautiful art, music, and food as Conservation Center favorite, Gary Melnysyn tickles your senses with beautiful wildlife images taken during his tenure as a park ranger at Yellowstone and sings some of your favorite songs to boot! Tuck into a chili and cornbread supper before the program. Bring your own place setting and BYOB! What a cozy evening they have in store for you! Members: $15.00 Non-members: $20.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

If you want to meet a new friend, check out the llama walk with Debbie Labbe from Country Quilt Llama Farm Stroll on March 13 and 26. Meet in the Museum parking lot. 2:00 P.M., $20.00 per person. A portion of the fee will be donated to the Conservation Center. Please register by calling Debbie at 860-248-0355 or email: countryquiltllamafarm@gmail.com or to schedule a private walk!

On March 19 listen to the epic tale of the great auk with Gerrie Griswold. The Great Auk , Garefowl, or Penguin of the North was a substantial sea bird whose extinction was entirely the work of humankind. The bird’s existence ended on the morning of June 3, 1844, when the last two recorded Great Auks were killed by three fishermen on the island of Eldey off the southwest coast of Iceland. With pictures and through the words of Errol Fuller, a world-renowned authority on extinct birds, Griswold will illustrate the epic destruction of a species at the hands of mankind. A simple meal will be served. Bring your own place setting including a soup bowl. 1:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room, Members: $15.00 Non-members: $25.00 Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. *Registration fee and any donations will go directly towards funding the purchase of a proper storage and possible exhibition case for our passenger pigeon mount.

Check out the late winter sky on March 26 at the Star Party hosted by members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society. Tonight’s topic is Astronomy 001 – How the Sky Works. Weather permitting,there will be star gazing after the program. 7:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

If Native American Life is of interest to you, join Lucianne Lavin, Ph.D, as he discusses stone cultural features and ceremonial landscapes in CT. The idea of Native American built stone features and ceremonial landscapes is fairly new to Northeastern archaeologists in general, who traditionally thought all were the result of Euro-American farm clearing. Some of it is, of course, but some of it is not. The latter is often associated with celestial movements that may reflect the timing of annual ceremonies/festivals. White Memorial is a huge land trust, and these ritual sites are often found on upland preserves for the very reason that the land has been preserved from industrialization and housing projects. Enjoy a delicious luncheon before her presentation. 2:00 P.M., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $20.00, Non-members: $30.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

The groundhog predicts an early spring this year, but even if he is wrong, one early sign of spring is certain. Fragrant plumes of steam rising from sugar shack chimneys throughout Western Connecticut always herald the arrival of maple syrup season, New England’s traditional signal that winter is on the way out.

As soon as days are above freezing and the sap begins to run, the fascinating process begins: tapping the maple trees, collecting the sap and boiling down the thin watery sap to turn it into thick, fragrant syrup. Clouds of white smoke show that the boiling kettles are in action.
Western Connecticut, where sugar maple trees abound, offers more than a dozen sugar houses in Fairfield County and the Litchfield Hills where visitors are invited for demonstrations and tours, along with sweet tastes and take-home purchases.

While many sugar houses welcome visitors every weekend when syrup is boiling from late February to late March, (see list below), some museums and nature centers in the region plan a special day or weekend to celebrate the season. Many festivities include pancake treats. They are served, of course, with delicious local maple syrup.

A SWEET HISTORY LESSON
Maple syrup making is a long-time tradition in this region and several special sites will offer interesting demonstrations of how methods have changed over 300 years, from the first Native Americans through Colonial times to today. The Institute for American Indian Studies will be showing examples of early techniques at the Flanders Nature Center Sugar House at Van Vleck Farm Sanctuary in Woodbury on March 6 and 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. Demonstrations also will take place at the New Canaan Nature Center on March 19 and at the annual Open House at the Great Brook Sugar House in New Milford on March 19 and 20.

TASTY CELEBRATIONS
The first weekend in March brings the annual Maple Sugar Festival at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. On March 5 and 6 there will be demonstrations at the little red sugarhouse on the museum’s Heckscher Farm and many activities for families as well. Saturday’s Chef’s Challenge features maple recipes and Sunday everyone is invited for the museum’s annual pancake brunch (www.Stamfordmuseum.com)

The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center http://ansonianaturecenter.org
located on 10 Deerfield Lane in Ansonia is also holding their annual Maple Festival on March 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are invited to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast with real maple syrup from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is $8 per person. The fun continues with a pancake eating contest, demonstrations on how to tap a tree plus Native American and modern day maple sugaring methods along with live animal presentations.

The 10th annual Maple Festival at Sweet Wind Farm takes place in East Harland on March 12 (sweetwindfarm.net) and the Sharon Audubon Center has its big day on March 19 (www.sharon.audubon.org). Pancakes will be served at the New Canaan Nature Center Syrup Saturday festivities on March 19. (www.Newcanaannature.org).

VISIT ANY WEEKEND
The Lamothe family started farming in 1971 with a few pigs and a vegetable garden. They began making maple syrup for their own use with a modest 7 taps. As word got around, so did requests from far and wide to purchase the precious maple syrup they made.

Lamothe’s has come a long way since their first 7 taps; today, Lamothe’s is Connecticut’s largest sugarhouse with more than 4,000 taps and a state-of-the-art sugar house.

On weekends, in February and March, Lamothe’s offers free tours on their farm from 1 pm to 4:30 pm. Visitors will learn how maple syrup was discovered and how it developed over time and is made today. Visitors will see how maple syrup and sugar are made and enjoy delicious samples. Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate is also served. Store hours are Mon. – Thurs. 10-6, Fri.-Sat. 10-5 and Sun. 12 – 5.

Lamothe’s Sugar House, 89 Stone Road, Burlington, CT (860-675-5043) www.lamothesugarhouse.com.

The following locations welcome visitors on any weekend when smoke from the chimney says that the syrup kettles are a-boiling. Many of these sugarhouses are located on scenic farms. The first three weekends in March usually are prime time, but weather can alter schedules and a warm winter means an early season. A call ahead is absolutely necessary to verify openings, hours and directions before making a trip.
For more information about maple syrup destinations and a free copy of Unwind, a full-color, 152-page booklet detailing what to do and see, and where to stay, shop and dine in the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County in Western Connecticut, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, or visit their web site at www.visitwesternct.com

Maple Syrup Sugar House Sites:

Brookside Farm, 79 East Chestnut Road, Litchfield, 860-567-3805

Brothers and Sons Sugarhouse, 998 Saw Mill Road, Torrington, 860-489-2719

Coolwater Sugarhouse, Great Mountain Forest, Windrow Rd., Norfolk, 860-542-5422

Dutton’s Sugarhouse, 28 Sunny Ridge Road, Washington, 860-868-0345

Flanders Nature Center Maple Sugar House, Church Hill Road, Woodbury, 203-263-3711,

Great Brook Sugarhouse at Sullivan Farm, 140 Park Lane (Route 202), New Milford, 860-210-2030. mid-February-March, http://youthagency.org
Kasulaitis Farm and Sugarhouse, 69 Goose Green Road, Barkhamsted, 860-738-9492

Hilljack Sugar Shack, 74 Wilson Rd., Litchfield, 860-482-6052.

Lamothe’s Sugar House, 89 Stone Road, Burlington, February 21-March 30. 860-675-5043,www.lamothesugarhouse.com

Laurelbrook Farm, 390 Norfolk Rd. & Route 44, East Canaan, 860-824-7529

Sweet Wind Farm, 339 South Road, East Hartland, 860-653-2038, sweetwindfarm.net (Saturdays only)

Warrup’s Farm, 11 John Read Road off Route 107, Redding, 203- 938-9403, warrupsfarm.com

West Hill Sugarhouse, 525 West Hill Road, New Hartford, 860-379-9672

Woodbury Sugarshed, 41 Washington Road, Route 47, Woodbury, 203-263-4550, woodburysugarshed.com