Category: News

Meet The Snakes… At Earthplace !

Earthplace in Westport Connecticut has a long history of educating the community about nature and the environment. True to their mission on Saturday, April 16 from 2:30 – 3:15 pm families are invited to get up close and personal with a snake ! Animal Care Technician, Andy Todd, aka The Snake Guy, will take participants on a journey to learn all about the world of snakes.

Andy will answer questions and provide key information and insights into snake behavior, snake size, daily diet, and which snakes make good pets. “Snakes are one of the most misunderstood and unjustly feared and hated animals on the planet” said Todd. “I want kids to come away feeling like they just got to participate in something exciting and out of the ordinary; something that they will remember when they are adults.”

Children over the age of 3 will have the opportunity to see and touch different types of snakes. The program runs from 2:30-3:15 and is included with the price of general admission and free for members. Contact Linda Roberts at (203) 227-7253, ext. 115 for more information.F

Founded in 1958 and accredited by The American Association of Museums, Earthplace, a non-profit organization maintains an 84-acre wildlife sanctuary with trails, contains an interactive natural history museum, houses live wildlife for public viewing and hosts many public nature programs and events for children and adults. Other activities include a state-licensed and accredited nursery school, summer day camp, a wildlife rehabilitation program, and the Harbor Watch/River Watch water quality testing program, which this year is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its formation.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center is located on 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, CT 06880.(I-95 Ex.17. Rte. 15 Ex. 41). (203) 227-7253. Grounds are open daily 7 to dusk and the Center is open Mon.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 1-4. http://www.earthplace.org.

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BOULDER DASH TO BE FEATURED APRIL 3RD, 4TH, 10TH AND 11TH ON TRAVEL CHANNEL’S BERT THE CONQUEROR

Lake Compounce, America’s oldest continuously operating amusement park,will be featured on the Travel Channel series ‘Bert the Conqueror’ as he conquers one of the world’s most popular wooden roller coasters, Boulder Dash. Boulder Dash is the only roller coaster built on a mountain and it has been voted the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world by Amusement Today Magazine. The episode will be the first of the show’s new season, and will air on Sunday, April 3rd at 8:00 P.M. on the Travel Channel. The episode will air again on Monday April 4th at 3:00 P.M., Sunday April 10th at 8:30
P.M. and Monday April 11th at 3:30 P.M.

“We were excited, but not surprised to hear that Bert wanted to come to Lake Compounce to ride our signature ride” said Jerry Brick, General Manager for the park. “You have not lived until you’ve ridden Boulder Dash!”

About Lake Compounce
Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks, is New England’s Family Theme Park and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America and is preparing for its 166th season. Season passes are now on sale for the 2011 season, and can be purchased
for $69.99 for a limited time (Regularly $79.99). Unlimited parking passes are available to all season pass holders for $33.00. Regular admission price for the 2011 season will be $35.99. Junior admission, which is for guests under 52 inches tall, is $25.99. Senior admission, for ages 61 and up, will be $17.99. Children 3 years of age and younger are admitted free. All tickets and season passes may be purchased by visiting http://www.lakecompounce.com.

About Palace Entertainment
Palace Entertainment hosts over 13 million visitors annually at 40 locations with eight theme parks, eleven water parks and 21 family entertainment centers and is the largest operator of water parks and
family entertainment centers in the nation. For more information, visit http://www.palaceentertainment.com.

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Lake Compounce Announces Name of New Ride!

Lake Compounce has announced that their new Zamperla Mega Disk’o ride will be called Rev-O-Lution. Lake Compounce fans chose their favorite name from the two posted on Facebook and on http://www.lakecompounce.com. Susan Healey of Deerfield, MA was the lucky fan chosen to bring a guest on the ride’s maiden voyage in May.

The Rev-O-Lution combines a rocking motion with a spinning motion, and positions riders on pedestal, motorcycle-like seats that face outward. Each ride accommodates 24 riders, 48″ or taller, and the outward facing seats provide a visual experience for onlookers as well.

“We are happy with the name Rev-O-Lution, and it was fun to involve our guests in the naming because we appreciate their enthusiasm for and loyalty to the park” says Lake Compounce General Manager Jerry Brick. “We had some fun with the logo and the theming, and we hope our guests are as excited about this new addition as we are.”

Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks, is New England’s Family Theme Park and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America and is preparing for its 166th season.

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Celebrate a Traditional Burns Night In Washington CT

Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, will be honored at a Highland Feast with a piper, Celtic music, and Haggis on January 29 at St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, Washington Green. This Burns Night celebration, a Scottish tradition, will feature a six-course meal with smoked salmon, venison, partridge, and a tasting of 6 to 10 single malt whiskies.

It may not be Scotland, but anyone can celebrate the anniversary of the famed poet’s birth, and St. John’s is ready to do it in style. A piper will announce the Haggis, delivered to the main table by the chef. Haggis, a sheep’s stomach filled with the sheep’s intestine and oatmeal, is a big part of the tradition, although there will be plenty of other good things to eat at this Burns Night. Scottish fare includes tatties (potatoes) and neeps (turnips), and a pudding called a “Tipsy-Laird-Trifle.” The meal will be preceded by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served with dinner.

Kilts, trews and tartans are encouraged and everyone will join in the recitation of favorite Burns poems, toasts, prayers, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”

The Highland Feast is $95 per person, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit St. John’s Community Outreach Committee. For more information or to make reservations, call St. John’s at 860-868-2527. St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 78 Green Hill Road, just across from the Washington Green. The Parish Hall faces 9 Parsonage Lane, with plenty of convenient parking.

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New Suite at The Inn at Kent Falls

Recently voted as the Best Bed and Breakfast by Connecticut Magazine, the charming Inn at Kent Falls has just announced the introduction of the “Gables Suite”. The Inn is located in a historic house built in 1741 that is located between the center of Kent and Kent Falls State Park.

The Gables is a comfortably elegant suite located in the former attic of the original inn and is crowned with exquisite beams that are 272 years old. These are the beams that actually hold up this historic property that has been featured in Travel and Leisure, Conde Naste Traveler, CT Magazine and many other national publications. The room features a queen size bed, six foot walk in shower, a large loft area with a large screen TV and DVD player and a desk and work area. There is a private staircase to this very attractive suite.

The carefully updated Inn at Kent Falls has four suites, and two luxurious rooms, five fireplaces, a pool, air conditioning, phone and Internet access. The common rooms include a screened porch, TV, and living room. The Inn is well known for serving guests a sumptuous Breakfast.

Visit their website for a list of special packages and promotions offered by the Inn at Kent Falls, 107 Kent Cornwall Rd., Kent CT

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Belgique Opens Second Store in New Canaan, CT

Belgique Patisserie & Chocolatier, best known for its delicious handmade Belgian chocolates, has opened a second location and is changing its name to Belgique Chocolatier to reflect a new primary focus on chocolate.

The new store opened on September 16 and is located at 88 Elm Street in the middle of downtown New Canaan. It is open Wednesdays through Sundays. The Gilissens have taken great pains to make the façade look as much like the Kent store as possible, with the familiar yellow clapboards, rounded red awning, and Belgian cobblestone front.

Connecticut Magazine has named Belgique chocolates as the best in the state 3 years in a row (2008, 2009, 2010). Belgique also had the prestige of providing its chocolates to royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II at a state dinner in Washington, DC in 2007, and over the years Belgique has been featured in such notable publications as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Chocolatier Magazine, and Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Its authentic Belgian hot chocolate was named as “one of the best 7 hot chocolates in the world” by Vivre Catalog in 2004.

Before opening Belgique in the year 2000, Chef Gilissen served as Executive Chef & Manager at The Residence of The Netherlands Ambassador to the U.S. in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he worked in Washington as Sous Chef for the British Ambassador to the U.S. Gilissen’s job was to prepare all meals, receptions, teas, etc. for these Ambassadors, their families and up to 1,000 guests. Working for embassies gave him the opportunity to cook for such notables as Queen Elizabeth II, President George H.W. Bush, Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Hussein of Jordan, and violinist Isaac Stern. His particular passion for chocolates began during his time in Washington, D.C. He received his culinary education at Belgium’s École Hôtelière de Libramont after four years of study emphasizing gourmet cooking, restaurant/hotel management, pastries and wine. While in Belgium, Gilissen worked at Michelin 2-star hotel/restaurant Le Moulin Hideux in Noirefontaine, Belgium and Auberge de Lavacherie in Lavacherie, Belgium.

Belgique Chocolatier is located at 1 Bridge Street in Kent (860) 927-3681. The phone number for the New Canaan store is (203) 801-0538.

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