Connecticut Travel

The Sharon Historical Society & Museum located on 18 Main Street in Sharon has announced the opening of the new exhibit in Gallery SHS, works by the Kent artist TOMAS SAVRDA. This show is being held at the Sharon Historical Society & Museum Art Gallery March 16 through May 10. The public is invited to attend the artists’ opening reception on Saturday, March 16, from 5-7PM.

Tomas is known for creations that are somehow charming and whimsical, but also distinctly edgy and thought-provoking. Constructed from wood, tin, stone, and found objects, his masks, mini stage scenes, and free-standing kinetic sculptures look like they have tumbled from some nineteenth-century cabinet of forgotten toys. Some are meditations on memory, innocence, and isolation; others are traditional folk stories filtered through dreams. They are also beautiful. A portion of all purchase proceeds will support the Sharon Historical Society & Museum’s mission.

Gallery SHS is located in the Sharon Historical Society & Museum at 18 Main Street in Sharon, CT. Museum hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 4:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and by appointment. For more information and directions to Gallery SHS, call (860) 364-5688. For additional information about the Sharon Historical Society & Museum, visit http://www.sharonhist.org.

The White Silo Farm and Winery located on 32 Rte. 37 in Sherman is opening for their 19th season on April 7. They have added additional seating, new lighting and an 11 ft solid red oak farm table. It all looks amazing (but the same vibe). They will be serving complimentary finger food and desserts both Saturday and Sunday 11 – 6 PM. On Sunday, April 7th they will have live music with Al Rivoli from 1 -4 PM. In addition sample a few of their new wines including our their natural sparkling apple cider that will be released in May.

Construction on their new wine production building has begun. The foundation is in, framing starts this week. Hopefully, it will be done by the end of April or early May. Don’t worry, they bottled plenty of wine over the winter.

The 2019 schedule is now posted on their website – a few more events will be added once they are finalized. New this year will be live music every Friday evening July and August 6 – 8 PM. Each Friday night Gina will prepare a few special tapas to enjoy with the wine and music.

Excitement is building for the return of the popular Meet.Play.Flow event established by RT Facts Gallery, Kent Barns, Kent, CT., one of Kent’s premier galleries. After three successful years, RT Facts’ Meet.Play.Flow. wellness event has taken wing by forming a partnership with the Kent Chamber of Commerce extending the feel-good vibe for a full week.

Visitors and residents alike can enjoy “Meet.Play.Flow & 7 Days of Wellness” beginning Thursday, April 4th and running through Wednesday, April 10th. During this unique wellness event, residents and visitors are welcome to enjoy week-long promotions, as well a weekend full of body, soul, and uplifting events. Throughout the week, several of Kent’s charming restaurants, cozy inns, unique shops, and caring service providers, will be offering healthy menus, yummy tastings, special room rates, as well as discounts on wellness-related products and services.

On Sat., April 6th, RT Facts Gallery will kick-off the weekend roster of special events. That day, RT Facts Gallery will host a series of seminars, workshops, and discussions guaranteed to jump-start healthy ambitions. Here, attendees will literally Meet. Play… and Flow onto a path of well-being.

Saturday’s all-day wellness event will see the return of many local instructors offering classes every half-hour in practices such as, hula-hoop dancing, yoga, Barre, tai chi, foam rolling, playful improv, drawing as meditation, etc. Attendees are welcome to explore aerial yoga, massage therapy, as well as making your own flower essences and smoothie/kimchi-tastings. With a $25 donation, attendees will have complete access to the many wellness practices and classes being offered. All proceeds will be matched by RT Facts Gallery and donated to the Connecticut ambulance squads of Kent and Cornwall. For further information on RT Facts Meet.Play.Flow Sat., April 6th event, visit www.meetplayflow.com.

The high-energy continues on Sunday, April 7th when the Kent Chamber of Commerce will be staging free sessions comprised of lectures, demonstrations and workshops. Experts in their chosen fields are on tap to conduct a healthy lineup of weekend events. Participants include: Chestnut Woodworking, Davis IGA, Fair Skies Acupuncture, Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant and Inn, J. P. Gifford Market, Kent Land Trust, Kent Yoga & Bodyworks, Movement Learning Resources, Prism Health Advocates, Starbuck Inn, Strong Core Team Training, Terston, Kent Victorian Inn, Villager Restaurant, W Rhythm Fitness & Wellness, among others. These free Chamber events will be held in various commercial locations throughout town. Attendees will nourish mind and body by listening to and partaking in sessions ranging from Chinese medicine, Pilates, and Essential Oils to understanding health care and successfully navigating an illness.

Meet.Play.Flow & 7 Days of Wellness is an inspiring event that affords attendees an opportunity to experience a variety of wellness practices while having fun and meeting friends both old and new. It’s also an event that serves as a novel introduction to the various shops, restaurants, and services that make up Kent, one of Connecticut’s most charming New England towns. For details on Meet.Play.Flow & 7 Days of Wellness, visit www.kentct.com or email info@kentct.com.

Enjoy a night of edge-of-your-seat storytelling through a series of inspiring short films all focusing on the big blue, as The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk welcomes “International Ocean Film Tour 6” on Thurs., April 4.  This one-night film fest features inspiring personalities in six short films from around the world. The stories celebrate sailors, surfers, scientists, artists and cinematographers who are doing extraordinary things in and on the oceans.

The films start at 7 p.m., but the entire Aquarium will open at 6 p.m. In addition, the evening concludes with a Q&A about the marine world with panelists from The Maritime Aquarium and Sacred Heart University, whose Department of Biology is a sponsor.  The films will be shown on the giant video wall in Newman’s Own Hall. Expected titles include:

“Julie” – 15 minutes. Free -diving and spearfishing became second nature to islander Julie Gautier. But her passion lies in the creative process. Fusing free diving and dance, “Julie” is Gautier’s powerful story of finding her creative voice beneath the surface.
“700 Sharks” – 20 minutes. Marine biologist and renowned wildlife photographer Laurent Ballesta takes audiences to the Pacific atoll Fakarava, where he has been studying the hunting behavior of reef sharks. With cutting-edge technology and a team of experts, Ballesta encounters more than 700 sharks and documents their strategies as they hunt groupers at night in a narrow ravine on the coral belt.
“Chasing the Thunder” – 45 minutes. Poaching at sea has flourished in remote places like the Ross Sea in the Southern Ocean, unchecked and uninhibited by law enforcement … but not without defense from activists like Sea Shepherd. “Chasing the Thunder” is a real-life thriller in rough seas; an epic 110-day sea chase across three oceans and two seas, where the fearless captains of two Sea Shepherd vessels pursue the illegal fishing trawler Thunder. See how conviction and resilience can make a difference where governments fail.
“Andy Irons – Kissed by God” – 30 minutes. Meet one of surfing’s all-time greats, a man who would change the sport forever but never managed to escape his own worst enemy: himself. In the 1990s, Andy Irons made a name for himself as the enfant terrible on and off the board. What appeared to be eccentricities was actually bipolar disorder. “Kissed by God” is the heart-rending story of an athlete who pushed the limits of his sport and transcended the boundaries of his condition against all odds up and until his untimely death.
“Surfer Dan” – 7 minutes. The winter waves on Lake Superior are just right for Dan Schetter. Dodging sheets of ice, he launches in the water with abandon to do what saved his life: surf. Nothing clears the head like a plunge into cold water—precisely what’s needed when you want to leave your drinking habits behind. A sober “Surfer Dan” introduces us to his drug and remedy, proving that a real surfer needs no palm trees, no tan lines and—most importantly—no excuses.
“Blown Away” – 7 minutes. Follow sound engineers Hannes Koch and Ben Schaschek on a 4.5-year life-changing journey, calling on ports in 31 countries, from Sydney to Berlin. Their goal: to record as many local musicians as they can and connect them all through music. On the tape, the “sailing conductors” introduce people from across the globe, who have never met one another in real life. This sailing adventure has not only a unique soundtrack, and it also will kindle everyone’s wanderlust.

Stay after the films for an “oceans Q&A” with Barrett Christie and Dr. David Hudson of The Maritime Aquarium, as well as Sacred Heart University Professors Jennifer Mattei, Barbara Pierce, and Deirdre Yeater.  Tickets are $20, or $18 for Aquarium members. (Note that regular adult Aquarium admission is $24.95. So, with doors opening at 6 p.m. for the April 4 event, you can tour The Maritime Aquarium for an hour and then enjoy this special film fest for less than normal admission.)  Learn more and reserve your tickets at www.maritimeaquarium.org.

The Aquarium event is the New England premiere of this newest, sixth version of the “International Ocean Film Tour.” Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itNAVRJdSS8

Hollister House Garden is looking to add some new garden enthusiasts to its volunteer staff for the 2019 season. Volunteers welcome visitors to the garden during our public visiting hours and assist in hosting lectures and special events.

“We rely on our volunteers to play a key role in representing the garden to visitors and event guests” says George Schoellkopf, creator of Hollister House Garden and president of the board of directors. “Volunteers appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the garden and provide information for our visitors from all around the world.”

Ideal volunteer candidates should be friendly, reliable and enjoy meeting the public. An interest in and enthusiasm for gardens is encouraged, however gardening expertise is not required. Volunteers are invited to several special events exclusively for volunteers during the season.

For more information, plan to attend one of our volunteer information sessions are Saturday, April 13th 10am and Sunday, April 14th, 4pm. RSVP to office@hollisterhousegarden.org or call 860-868-2200.

Hollister House Garden is a non-profit corporation and one of only 16 exceptional gardens designated a Preservation Project by the Garden Conservancy, whose mission is to identify and preserve important private gardens across America for the education and enjoyment of the public.

In 2010 Hollister House achieved its prestigious listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The property has also been named a Town Landmark Site by the Town of Washington.

Hollister House Garden is open to visitors April 26th through October 12th on Wednesdays and Fridays hours 1-4PM and Saturdays 10-4PM. Private group visits are welcome weekdays by appointment only. Directions to the garden’s 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are also available on the website. Contact: Pamela Moffett, 860-868-2200 office@hollisterhousegarden.org.