Connecticut Travel

The shelves of the Connecticut Audubon Society located on 2325 Burr Street in Fairfield are stocked with festive nature and bird-themed items perfect for gift giving. Below is a sampling of what’s “in store” for you, but be sure to stop by as items are added daily.

The Center at Fairfield’s Nature Store offers the ability to shop locally and support the Connecticut Audubon Society’s conservation and environmental education programs. And don’t forget, Connecticut Audubon Society Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases!

There are beautiful winter owl cards featuring distinctive gold foiling on the front. We also have a wide selection of holiday gift tags, notepads, and individual greeting cards.  Suet is an excellent choice to offer your feathered visitors this winter. This attractive feeder features a recycled plastic roof to protect the suet from the elements and a coated steel cable is provided for easy hanging. The coated wire mesh cage holds one suet cake.

The Audubon Birds in the Garden calendar is back for 2019, combining two beloved and seamlessly linked passions: gardening and bird watching. Also included are seasonal tips such as growing bird-friendly plants and nurturing migratory birds. A gift to enjoy all year long! 

This wild bird feeder has the technology to thwart unintended guests. When a squirrel climbs onto the feeder, its weight automatically closes the holes, saving the seeds for your feathered friends.

The Nature Store has feeders to suit all your needs. Be sure to them online for more ideas. Other unique ways to give include Ambassador Bird sponsorships, gift certificates for summer camp programs and membership to the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Nature Store Hours: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday – Saturday (203-259-6305 ext. 109).

Walking in a Winter Wonderland! What a way to start December with the joyous sounds of holiday music, the scents of holiday treats and the delicious taste of gingerbread. The theme of this year’s 51stAnnual Gingerbread Village and Christmas Bazaar is “Winter Wonderland”.

All are welcomed to come and share this festive weeklong event with the parishioners of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury CT.

For over five decades now St. George’s parish has graciously welcomed the community to visit their magical village of gingerbread creations. As summer winds down and autumn approaches, visions of gingerbread and the sweet smells of cinnamon and spice fill the church halls. Parishioners, both young and old are often heard collaborating and sharing ideas about candy, construction and design choice.

Each piece displayed in the village is handcrafted and completely edible. Houses are often built from not just gingerbread, but pasta, beans, gum and breakfast cereal. In addition to houses, visitors will likely see sleigh riders, snowman, reindeer and perhaps even Santa. All items are on sale and will be available for pick up on the final day.

This mission is held near and dear to the heart of St. George’s. It has become part of a local holiday tradition for many, and we cordially welcome all visitors to come enjoy our truly unique display.

In addition to the village, the bazaar offers a bake shoppe, the opportunity to decorate your own cookie, raffle baskets and Christmas crafts for sale. Gingerbread kit houses will also be for sales which provide everything needed to create your own masterpiece at home.

Lunch will be available Saturday December 8th from 11:00am to 2:30pm. All you can eat breakfast on December 8th from 8:30-11am.

Village hours are Saturday December 1 – 10 am to 7pm, Sunday Dec 2 -12 noon to 7pm. Monday through Friday 2:00 pm-4:00pm, 6pm-8pm. Saturday, December 80th- 10am-4pm. As always, parking and admission are free (donations welcomed). The church is handicap accessible.

For more information, please visit http://www.gingerbreadvillagect.com. For general questions please contact the church at 203-758-9864 or email stgeorges9864@att.net. Group appointments can be scheduled by calling 203-217-4246.

The Warner Theatre in Torrington is presenting several special holiday performances in the month of December that is sure to delight young and old alike.

A holiday favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas will be presented from December 8-16 in the Studio Theatre. Tickets are $12! The Warner Stage Company will present the family favorite and will hold a holiday sing-a-long and host a “Meet and Greet and Color” in the lobby following each performance. The Warner Stage Company production is directed and choreographed by Meredith Porri with music direction by T.J. Thompson. The cast features (alphabetically) Caitlin Beaudry, Nick Bourne, Abbey Elias, Malie Grasmere, Jennifer Langrock, Eric Lindblom, Lyn Nagle, Dan Porri, Steffon Sampson, Jeffrey Schoonmaker, Sarah Skrip. Performances are Saturday, December 8 and 15 at 1 & 4 pm, and Sunday, December 9 and 16 at 1 & 4 pm.

It would not be the holiday season without the timeless joy of The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory’s full-length version of the classic tale on our Main Stage! All dance roles will feature trainees of The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, along with cameo roles performed by children from the Torrington School of Ballet. Performances are Saturday, December 15 at 2 & 7 pm and Sunday, December 16 at 2 pm.

To round out the month of December, on the 29th the Warner is presenting the All Star Commedy Show at 8 pm in the Studio Theatre. Tickets are $25! We are excited to host an evening of comedy* with Blue Boy Entertainment’s All-Star Comedy Show starring KAREEM BLUE, LINDA BELT, DARREN RIVERA and PEACHES RODRIGUEZ.Kareem Blue is a former boxer turned comedian; an entertainer, actor, and producer of his own comedy shows; and owner and operator of Blue Boy Entertainment. Kareem was runner-up in New England’s Funniest Comic at Mohegan Sun. Linda Belt is a New Jersey native (a comedy routine in itself). Her humor touches on the absurdities of modern life and explores marriage, sex, parenting, and social mores, in other words: any subject she feels like discussing! Darren Rivera “The RicenBean Joker” was born in the Bronx, raised in the suburbs of Pennsylvania and started his career in New England – giving him and his observations a twist to everyday life. Darren is a runner-up at Last Comix Standing at Mohegan Sun. Peaches Rodriguez is a nationally touring comic and regularly performs in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. She has opened for Arsenio Hall, shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld and very recently danced in a video for Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour!
For tickets and more information visit the website.

Benefiting the Greenwich Historical Society, the Greenwich Antique Show is taking place this year on Dec. 1 & 2 at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center on 90 Harding Road in Greenwich from 10 am to 5 pm each day. This show highlights a variety of antiques from 42 top dealers.

On Saturday, December 1, there will be Rago Modern Design Lecture and Appraisal Day from 12 noon to 5 pm. Join Rago specialists for a lecture, followed by complimentary auction evaluations for Fine and Post War/Contemporary Art, 20th/21st Century Design; 18th/19th Century Decorative Arts and Furnishings, Jewelry, Silver, Coins, and Currency (photographs acceptable). Appraisals by appointment only. Please call 917-745-2730.

This show offers a wide variety of merchandise, including fine art, marine art, estate jewelry, American and continental furniture, prints, handbags and more from the 18th century to the mid 20th century. Exhibitors bring their best material and shopping is fun. Dealers are happy to answer questions and give you some history on the function and creation of the items they are selling.

Admission for $15 per person includes both Saturday (10 am to 6 pm) and Sunday (11 am to 5 pm) and the on-site gourmet cafe is a nice place to sit for a minute.

The preview gala is on Friday, November 30 from 7 pm to 9 pm and tickets are available online. Tour and shop the Greenwich Winter Antiques Show before it opens to the public. Champagne reception, open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and light buffet by Marica Selden Catering. Tickets: $150 per person. Advance reservations strongly preferred. Gala tickets are non-refundable. Purchase tickets at http://www.greenwichhistory.org/antiquarius.php
or call the Greenwich Historical Society at 203-869-6899 x 10.

The holiday season offers each of us a chance to reminisce, connect with family and friends and find joy in our traditions. One of the most anticipated traditions in Woodbury has become the Glebe House Christmas Festival Open House.

Open House & Holiday Boutique will take place on Saturday, December 1 from 10AM to 3PM. New this year: The Museum will open its day with a Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Musical Readers presentation of the Nutcracker. (Sponsored by: TD Bank – Woodbury). During the open house the public may enjoy the beautiful decorations to purchase, along with gift items available in the Holiday Boutique, presented in the Cottage Annex.

Visitors will enjoy experiencing life in this Revolutionary War era house during the holidays re-enacted by adult and youth volunteers. The costumed docents will give first-person accounts of the Marshall family who lived at the “Glebe” from 1771-1786 and share stories about how the family prepared for the holiday season.

Admission is free for the day. Donations are gladly accepted. All proceeds from this weekend event will help support The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden. For more information please call the museum at 203-263-2855 / email at office@glebehousemuseum.org

It is time to warm up to the Holidays on December 8 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Wish House, Barbara Farnsworth Bookstore, Ian Ingersoll’s Furniture and the Cornwall Conservation Trust in the bucolic village of West Cornwall on the banks of the Housatonic River in the heart of the Litchfield Hills.

The day begins at the Wish House with a workshop for kids and the young @ heart with lf Joe Brien of the
Lost Arts Workshops crafting an old fashion wooden toy. Santa will be overseeing operations and will be available for Holiday snapshots that are sure to make heartwarming memories. The fun doesn’t stop there@ *Author Sally Cook will be on hand and ready to signer her book that makes the ideal stocking stuffer and includes the very popular -How to Speak Soccer, How to Speak Baseball, How to Speak Golf and How to Speak Football. And, if you work up an appetite, no worries, the Wish House is hosting holiday nibbles and libations including German Gluehwein!

Just up the street, at Barbara Farnsworth’s Bookstore, Susan Susan Hellman will greet customers with a 50% off sale on all of the books in stock. Browse amid a lovely array of handmade book bags, stupendously cute and beautiful crafts and cards. Join this multi-talented Lady for coffee and homemade cookies!

If nature is your thing, be sure to pop into the open house at the Cornwall Preservation Trust. Here you will find maps of the many hiking trails that criss-cross Cornwall making them a good option after a large holiday meal!

If you are in the market for authentically made Shaker Furniture, pop into Ian Ingersoll’s Furniture showroom where bubbly and nibbles will be served while you may peruse the classy local artwork exhibited in the showroom among the gorgeous furnishings.