Category: Litchfield Hills Connecticut Travel

Danbury CT’s Ives Concert Park Gets Ready to Rock, Roll … and Reminisce All Summer Long !

Award-winning artists with decades of influential music-making will perform this summer in the Union Savings Bank Summer Concert Series at Ives Concert Park in Danbury.

Multi-platinum recording artists Michael Franti & Spearhead and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals will perform at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 27, at the outdoor venue on the Westside campus of Western Connecticut State University, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Tickets, which range from $26 to $37, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events.

According to his website, “The Sound Of Sunshine” — the inspired and inspiring new album by Michael Franti & Spearhead — is a kind of musical sun shower, a bright, beautiful and often buoyant song cycle created to bring all kinds of listeners a sense of hope during rough and rainy times for so many in our world. Potter’s bio proclaims: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are like a modern-day version of Tina Turner stroking the microphone in a spangled mini-dress while fronting the Rolling Stones circa Sticky Fingers. The proof is there for all to hear on the band’s third album for Hollywood Records, hitting this spring, and marks an artistic breakthrough for a vital young band caught in the act of fulfilling its immense promise.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, July 1, Grammy Award winner Peter Frampton will take the Ives Concert Park stage to perform “Frampton Comes Alive!” in its entirety for his 35th Anniversary Tour. Gates will open at 7 p.m. Tickets, which range from $27 to $77, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. The three-hour show will feature a complete performance of “Frampton Comes Alive!” along with highlights from Frampton’s catalog, including his Grammy Award-winning 2006 instrumental album, “Fingerprints.”


Popular Ives artists Earth,Wind & Fire will perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 2. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which range from $32 to $97, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. The Earth, Wind & Fire 40th Anniversary Tour will launch April 30 and continue to July 3, taking the legendary group to more than 30 cities. A celebrated legacy of four decades has produced 20 Grammy nominations with eight wins, an induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and bountiful musical and cultural achievements.

Legendary duo Steely Dan will perform at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 25. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events and range from $37 to $152, plus service charges. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Steely Dan dazzled both the public and the critics in 2009 with their classic-albums-in-full Rent Party Tour. Responding to overwhelming popular demand, Steely Dan masterminds Walter Becker and Donald Fagen bring on more action with the Shuffle Diplomacy Twenty Eleven summer tour. The tour, which kicks off in Seattle on July 2 and concludes in Boston on Sept. 30, will showcase greatest hits and deep cuts alike.

Alison Kraus and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will take the stage at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets, which range from $30 to $75, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. According to Krauss’ publicity, her most recent triumph, the certified-platinum “Raising Sand,” a 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant and producer T Bone Burnett, notched a total of six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year, bringing her unsurpassed total to 26. That mesmerizing modern-day masterpiece sets the stage for another stunner: “Paper Airplane,” the artist’s first album of all-new recordings in partnership with her remarkably skillful and renowned band Union Station since 2004’s “Lonely Runs Both Ways.”

Alternative rockers from Boston, Mass., Guster, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which range from $25 to $35, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. Formed in 1991 at Tufts University, Guster is known for its live performances and humor. Opening will be Ra Ra Riot, an American indie rock band from Syracuse, N.Y.

The J. Geils Band and special guests The Chris Robinson Brotherhood will perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets, which range from $37 to $77, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. The J. Geils Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Worcester, Mass., best known for its 1981 single, “Centerfold,” which charted No. 1 in the U.S. in early 1982. The band played R&B-influenced blues-rock in the 1970s before moving towards a more pop-influenced sound in the 1980s. Since its initial break-up in 1985, the band has reunited several times. Special guest Robinson tells fans on his website, “We’ll be playing a bunch of new songs I have been working on and will be digging deep into what is happening at that musical moment. There will be old stuff that I’ve done and a handful of covers that just feel right.”


It wouldn’t be summer without a live performance by The Beach Boys. They will perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets, which range from $27 to $57, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. You can summarize most pop music acts by reciting how many hits they’ve had and how many millions of albums they’ve sold. But, according to the band’s website, these conventional measurements fall short when you’re assessing the impact of The Beach Boys. To be sure, this band has birthed a torrent of hit singles and sold albums by the tens of millions. But its greater significance lies in the fact that it changed the musical landscape so profoundly … that every pop act since has been in its debt.

Closing out this summer’s Celebrity Concert Series are Texas rockers ZZ Top, who will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets, which range from $37 to $67, plus service charges, are on sale at http://www.premierboxoffice.com/events. The band lays undisputed claim to being the longest running major rock band with original personnel intact and in 2004 the Texas trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

For more information, visit the Ives Concert Park website at http://www.ivesconcertpark.com,
the Ives Concert Park Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ivesconcertpark or follow the venue on Twitter at http://twitter.com/IvesConcertPark.

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Goshen Stampede Promises Rodeo Thrills A Fathers’ Day Treat in the Litchfield Hills

No need to travel far for Wild West excitement. Broncos and bulls and daring bareback riders will bring Western-style rodeo thrills close to home for the 6th Annual Goshen Stampede in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, a three-day event June 17-19, perfectly timed for a Fathers Day treat.

The fun starts Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m., when the fastest horses in Connecticut and their riders will race for cash prizes and a title in Barrel Racing, an event that demands speed, timing and accuracy to bring home the money. Two big rodeo competitions will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. and on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19th at 2 p.m. To add to the fun, a kid’s rodeo will take place on Saturday at 4 p.m. for entrants up to age 12.

Rodeos aren’t the only competitions on the agenda for this gala occasion. There will be added excitement galore from two wild Demolition Derbies and the Tri-State Truck and Tractor Pulls competitions. Midway rides, free bands every night, great food and fireworks plus a petting zoo just for the kids will add to the festivities.

The Stampede will take place at the Goshen Fair Grounds, 116 Old Middle St. (Rte. 63) in Goshen. Stampede hours are Friday, June 17th 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m; Saturday, June 18th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 19th 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission: Adults: $12, Ages 10-18: $6 and under 10 free with a paying adult and a coupon that is available on the Stampede website. For complete schedule of events and discount tickets visit http://www.goshenstampede.com.

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Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women’s Hats in Danbury CT

Join First Lady of Danbury, Phyllis Boughton at the Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority on Saturday, June 4, 2011 for the opening of the Society’s newest exhibit, “Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women’s Hats in Danbury.” The ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. and will be followed by refreshments.

Twenty display cases, filled to the brim, will feature over 300 ladies hats from the museum collection – caps, bonnets, felts, furs whimsies, pillboxes and more. The exhibit showcases hat design from the colonial period through the mid-20th century along with hat related accessories. Visitors to the exhibit will be amazed by the artistry of the hats on view.

An entire wall in Huntington Hall will be dedicated to articles of ephemera including historic newspaper advertisements and city directory listings related to the millinery trade in Danbury. Vintage photos and antique postcards from the archives of the Society illustrate styles and trends.

The exhibit was inspired by the work of Catherine Vanaria, Western CT State University photography professor and Danbury small business owner, who spent time during the summer of 2010 photographing the hat collection. Erika Askin, guest curator and museum volunteer, spent countless hours cataloging each hat, writing the scripts and staging the exhibit.

Joretta Kilcourse, museum docent and volunteer crafted a special ‘Magnificent Millinery Quilt’ featuring Vanaria’s photos of some of the finest hats in the collection. The winning ticket for this fundraising raffle will be drawn at the close of the exhibit on October 15, 2011.

The Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women’s Hats in Danbury’ exhibit will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m from June 4, 2011 through October 15, 2011. Suggested donation for viewing the exhibit is $5.00.

Danbury was once known as the “hatting capital” of the country. An abundance of water and marshes that attracted beavers were the key elements essential to hat making and at that time Danbury had both. The industry has been traced back to Zadoc Benedict who began a shop in Danbury in 1780. By the early 19th century there were over 40 shops making hats in Danbury.

By 1909 Danbury was making 36 million hats a year from cowboy hats to fedoras to top hats and became known as Hatting Capital of the World. The decline of the “hat culture” is attributed to the automobile industry because hats became cumbersome to wear in cars. In 1987, Stetson was the last hat factory to leave Danbury marking the end of an era.

Special Note: June 4th is also National Trails Day. The DMHSA is happy be joining in by distributing maps for our “Museum In the Streets” walk that winds through CityCenter Danbury. Park your car, put on your hat, refill your water bottle and take a stroll downtown. Stop along the way at each of twenty-one history panels and learn about our wonderful city!

About the DMHSA:The Danbury Museum & Historical Society was formed in 1947 to acquire, preserve, exhibit and interpret New England’s past; focusing particularly on the heritage of Danbury. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary Rider House (c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building houses the museum offices and research library.

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A Workshop for Fiber Enthusiasts in Litchfield Hills

If you are thinking of taking an unusual weekend country retreat to recharge a unique workshop featuring the art of fiber preparation is being offered in the Litchfield Hills. The workshop takes place at Sachem Farm B&B that is situated serenely overlooking Lake Waramaug, Connecticut’s second largest natural lake. Here you will learn about sheep, knitting, spinning, and felting along with discussions on wool processing and fiber preparation in a setting of great natural beauty. Join Kim Goodling from VT Grand View Farm June 10-12 for a weekend workshop, taking a fleece through the stages of skirting, washing, and carding.

This workshop will explore fiber preparation, from skirting a newly shorn fleece, to carding techniques and everything in between. You will explore different breeds of sheep and how the care and health of a sheep affects wool quality. You will learn how to wash a fleece and how to use both hand cards, and a drum carder to create wonderful batts for felting or spinning. You’ll leave this workshop with the confidence to purchase and process your own fleeces. Best of all, you don’t need to know how to spin to appreciate this workshop, although by the end of the retreat …. you’ll want to learn!

The Sachem Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast, overlooking Lake Waramaug provides the ideal venue for this weekend workshop. Guest rooms are elegantly decorated with fine antiques, comfortable reading chairs, and luxurious beds. A leisurely breakfast featuring fresh eggs from the farm and local produce is included in every stay. Here you can take time to enjoy the pastures and sheep as you learn about working and living on a small fiber farm. You may want to spend your free time knitting on the porch that overlooks majestic Lake Waramaug, take a stroll down a country lane or explore the ring road along the Lake by bike. Nearby bucolic villages provide endless shopping and restaurants for dining. As an added bonus, Hopkins Vineyard is just up the street for wine tasting and vineyard walks.

Workshop Itinerary:

Friday, June 10

Arrive at 2:00pm (Early Check-in offered, with time to relax and unwind)

Spend the afternoon knitting or spinning on the porch.

5:00pm-6:00pm Complimentary Wine Tasting featuring local wine from Hopkins Vineyard.

Dinner on your own (there are many fine area restaurants to choose from or, get take-out and eat by the lake)

Saturday, June 11
8:00am-9:00am Breakfast on the porch

9:30am-12:00pm Morning Workshop

Different Wools

– Discuss different types of sheep wool

– Discuss other available animal fibers, i.e. angora, llama, etc.

– Discuss animal care and health of fleece

– Selecting fleeces and hands-on skirting

12:00pm-1:00pm Picnic Lunch by the sheep pasture

1:00pm-3:00pm Afternoon Workshop

– Fiber Preparation

– Discuss methods for cleaning wool

– Hands-on washing a fleece

Self-serve coffee and tea is always available in our B&B living room and on the porch. Enjoy an afternoon or evening of knitting or spinning with a fantastic view of the lake!

Dinner on your own (there are many fine area restaurants to choose from or, get take-out and eat by the lake)

Sunday, June 12

8:00am-9:00am breakfast on the porch

9:30am-12:30pm Morning Workshop

– Hand Carding Wool and creating spinning rolags

– Using a drum carder to blend and create fibers into wonderful

batts for spinning and felting

12:30pm-1:30pm A “working” lunch on the porch if extra time is needed for carding.

Check-out will be extended until 4 pm for those who would like to explore the area or enjoy the lake front.
Please note….any guest wishing to help with farm chores can assist with sheep feeding at the barn in the morning, before breakfast.

Fiber Preperation Workshop Weekend Special June 10-12
Lodging cost: Friday & Saturday night, (breakfast included)
$535.00 lake view room with private bath (accommodates two, $40.00 for 1 additional person on rollaway cot) (CT state occupancy tax included)
$335.00 shared bath room (accommodates two) (CT state occupancy tax included)
Workshop fee $175.00 (lunch, afternoon tea & materials included) Accommodations and workshop availability are limited.
For workshop registration and reservation requests: Phone (860)-868-0359 Email: info@thesachemfarmhouse.com http://www.thesachemfarmhouse.com

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Woodbury Auction’s 2nd Anniversary Antique and Fine Art Auction

Woodbury Auction’s 2nd Anniversary Antique and Fine Art Auction has been scheduled for May 21, 2011 at 11 am. This auction will be in the heart of historic Woodbury,Connecticut at 670 Main Street South – Sherman Village.

Thomas Schwenke commented that “this space in a centrally located and highly visible location allows us to get the auction set up much more efficiently and also provides maximum exposure for the auction, all to the benefit of our consignors and buyers. Attendees will find ample parking in the commercial mall also occupied by Ovens of France, a charming French bakery, and Zee Burger, the newest culinary offering by noted Woodbury chef Carole Peck.

A beautiful mid-spring ride to Woodbury, called by many the “Antiques Capital” of Connecticut, and situated on the “Connecticut Antiques Trail”, will bring attendees to Woodbury Auction LLC’s anniversary event, featuring American and European furniture, country Americana, folk art, and decorative and fine art. Premier items in the sale include a pair of Joseph H. Sharp watercolors, a rare New Jersey silvered dial tall clock by Aaron Lane, a stunning Continental crystal chandelier, and a Pennsylvania walnut Queen Anne dressing table descended in the family of William Pinckney, Maryland statesman.

Also offered in this anniversary sale, Woodbury Auction’s sixth sale since inception in May of 2009, will be furniture, paintings, country Americana, folk art, porcelain, vintage toys and general collectibles from estates and consignors in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island. Absentee, phone and online bidding (through Live Auctioneers) will be available. Preview will be held from May 18th through the morning of the sale.

“Woodbury Auction is an auction house with well-qualified dealer experts in service to appreciators of not only fine arts and antiques, but of the art of the auction itself,” noted Mr. Schwenke, founder of the enterprise. “Connecticut is really at the heart of America’s historic property preservation and antiquities interest. Being located on the “Connecticut Antiques Trail”, we have real time visitors and clients from all over the country. And since our auctions are also conducted live on the internet we offer the opportunity for fine pieces to change hands on a world wide selling platform.”

As owner and proprietor of Thomas Schwenke, Inc. Antiques, one of Woodbury’s largest shops, Schwenke is widely regarded as one of the country’s top antiques experts having over four decades of experience in the antiques business and boasting a broad established network of dealers, appraisers and collectors.

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CT’s White Silo Farm–Annual Asparagus Festival May 14 & 15


This is the fourth year that this small specialty winery is holding it’s popular Annual Asparagus Festival on May 14 and 15 from 12 PM – 5 PM in the bucolic village of Sherman CT just outside of Danbury.

Visitors to this festival are in for a treat as White Silo’s culinary experts will be serving dishes prepared from their farm fresh asparagus, freshly picked the morning of the event. Some of the mouth-watering choices include: truffled asparagus crostini, asparagus soup with fried asparagus shavings, and asparagus latkes, along with a few other items. There will be $5-6 charge per small plate.

A forte of White Silo Farm and Winery is their selection of specialty wines that include “Blackberry Sangria”, Raspberry, Black Currant, Rhubarb, and Blackberry, all made with fruit grown at the farm. Throughout the season as fruit ripens, White Silo offers pick-your-own berries, asparagus and rhubarb.

To round out the festivities live music, winery and field tours, and farm museum tours will be held throughout the day. The farm tour is especially exciting because you experience the charm of an earlier era when touring the old barn where the winery is located. The tour will also take you to visit the fermentation, bottling, and corking rooms where the classical art of wine making has been preserved. This event is perfect for a fun family spring outing. Admission to the event is free.

White Silo Farm & Winery is located on 32 Rt 37 East in Sherman, CT 06784 and can be reached at: 860 355 0271 or visit them at http://www.whitesilowinery.com.

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