Connecticut Travel

Traditions of the Algonquian Indians, who lived in northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, are kept alive in many fascinating ways at the Institute for American Indian Studies, Curtis Road, Washington, CT. One of the most interesting Native American traditions is taking place here on March 10, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. when visitors are invited to an authentic Maple Sugaring Festival.

Lost in the mists of history, Native Americans discovered that sweet sap runs from maple trees in the spring as the days get warmer and the nights stay cold. They discovered that boiling the sap in a hollowed out log with hot rocks reduced the water like liquid to an amber colored syrup; and that when cooked longer, it would also harden into a brownish colored “sugar”.

The Native Americans used this precious sap to sweeten and flavor their food, and as a sought after item to barter with. Eventually, they taught colonists the art of tapping maple trees for their sap and how to turn it into delicious “Sweetwater”.

To sweeten up spring join the staff of the Institute along with primitive technologists Jeff and Judy Kalin in the outdoor Algonquian Village for an afternoon celebrating the gift of maple syrup. The Kalins will demonstrate the traditional technique of collecting sap using only stone and wooden tools that would have been used by Native Americans. They will discuss the importance of maple sugar to the diet of Native Americans as well as its usefulness as an item of trade.

A highlight of this event are the “made from scratch” pancakes served up with local maple syrup, coffee and orange juice. The Maple Syrup Demonstration is noon – 3 pm., the Pancake Brunch is 11 am – 2 pm and children’s activities are 11:30 am – 2:30 pm. The cost is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, children are $10 and members of the museum $5.

About Primitive Technologies

PTI has built nearly 200 aboriginal structures both free standing and congregated in villages using only the tools and practices of the time such as stone axes, flaked hand tools, and fire. In his work, Jeff Kalin, owner of PTI uses only primitive tools that he has made himself.

PTI has created the village at the American Indian Archeological Institute in the style of the Eastern Woodland Indians. This reconstructed village was created to look as it would have in the 16th century prior to European contact. There are several wigwams and a longhouse in the village. The structures are covered in thatch or bark.

Mr. Kalin is recognized as an expert in stone tool replication and is a consultant to museum curators and archeologists in the analysis of artifacts. He has constructed prehistoric sets for filmmakers and his wood-fired replica pottery hand built from river clay is in private and public collections.

Native American Legends

There are many Native American legends concerning maple syrup.

Abenaki Legend

The Abenaki believed that the Creator gave many gifts to help man during his life and one of these gifts was maple syrup that would flow freely year-round from a broken tree limb. When the Creator saw the Abenaki not tending to their village or crops and just drinking the sweet sap the creator decided to teach them a lesson by making the sap flow once a year in the spring. The Abenaki learned to honor the creator’s gift by finding that it would now take a lot of work to make the syrup. To honor this gift they collected sap in birch bark buckets and prepared hot rocks to boil the sap from a thin liquid into a thick syrup.

Mohegan Legend

The Mohegan’s believed that the melting snow caused the spring sap to run and considered it to be the dripping oil of the Great Celestial Bear, that was wounded by the winter sky hunters. The bear that was represented by the Big Dipper was part of their own Pleiades story that weaves its way through many Native American origin stories.

Iroquois Legend

An Iroquois legend tells of Woksis, an Indian chief that pulled his tomahawk from a maple tree while hunting resulting in sap dripping from the tree. The chief’s squaw noticed the sap dripping from the tree and needing water to make dinner decided to collect the sap from the tree rather than walk all the way to the river. The sap made the meal very tasty and as a result, the Native Americans decided to tap maple trees.

On March 3 from 11 am till 12:30 kids are invited to learn about stenciling from an expert at the Wilton Historical Society located on 224 Danbury Road. There will be so many motifs to choose from.

Flower baskets, graceful willow trees, wildflower sprays and simple vines plump with berries were typical motifs which decorated many plastered New England walls. According to Early American stenciling expert Suzanne Korn, “The history of decorative arts in America includes a colorful chapter between the years of 1778 and 1840 when itinerant wall stencilers roamed New England country roads, painting their colorful folk art in homes, inns, and taverns
along the way.”

Ms. Chen will be talking about this simple, colorful folk art, and its history. The workshop project will be stenciling a lace pattern on a plate. The children will help make their own snack, doily chocolate cookies. To register or find out more click here

On Thursday, March 8 the Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a luncheon, lecture and book signing featuring Richard Keith Langham beginning at 11:30 a.m.

For the last 25 years Alabama-born, Manhattan-based Richard Keith Langham has been creating elegant spaces for some of New York’s most legendary ladies (think Mrs. William F. Buckley and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis). His pedigreed town and country homes, grounded in tradition and enlivened with a fresh and imaginative perspective, feature lush color and pattern, a mixture of old and new and are particularly characterized by couture details.

Langham studied at Parsons School of Design and London’s Study Center for the History of Fine and Decorative Arts and earned a degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology in interior design. Before launching his own firm he apprenticed under the legendary Mark Hampton and honed his skills at Irvine & Fleming. His name has appeared on Architectural Digest’s AD-100 as well as on Elle Decor’s A List, and his work has appeared in publications too numerous to list. Add to that notable resume: Honorary Design Chair of Antiquarius 2017.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear firsthand the stories behind the unique and elegant homes featured in his luscious new book, About Decorating, The Remarkable Rooms of Richard Keith Langham. Tickets are available online.

White Memorial Foundation, the state’s largest nature conservation center is offering an interesting evening on March 3 on “dreaming with animal powers.

Where do we go every night? Why? Is it really “Just a Dream?!” Are you being “stalked” in your dreams – or in your waking life! – by a certain Animal? Get to Know Your Inner Tiger – or Dolphin or Eagle or Bear or…! Active Dreaming is a synthesis of modern dream work and ancient shamanic practices which views dreams as experiences of the soul. The Active Dreaming process respects the dreamer as the only authority on the meaning of his or her dreams – and thus, his or her Life.

As part of this lively evening, we will learn the Lightning Dreamwork process – a quick, fun and respectful way to share dreams or Waking experiences that helps us to develop our intuition and creativity, and helps us to bring their healing into our daily lives. We will learn about the many ways in which the Animals show themselves to us – in our Dreams and in our day-to-day lives – and how to discern their messages.

Come ready to learn more about the Magical world in which we live! Please bring a drum or rattle if you have one, your Dream journal if you keep one, and your Imagination! 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $ 30.00 , Non-members: $45.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online.

​This past November, two tiger twins were born at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. They are rare, endangered Siberian tigers whose species in the wild have just under 500 animals left.

A group of men and women from around Fairfield County have banded together to support the endangered species programs that the Beardsley Zoo is part of and they have organized an Endangered Species Gala that will take place on November 3 at the Patterson Club in Fairfield. The committee is co-chaired by Kathy MacGhee of Shelton and Cathy Fell of Fairfield.​

The guest speaker for this event will be world class explorer, Richard Weiss. He is also an Emmy award winning producer and author of the book, “Born to Explore: How to be a Backyard Adventurer.”

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Amanda Bolanos, associate development director, at 203-394-6574, or at abolanos@beardsleyzoo.org. There are several level of sponsorships that include the $25,000 presenting sponsorship, $10,000 to the Amur Tigers, $5,000 to the Golden Lion Tamarin and $2,500 for the Red Wolf.

It’s the perfect winter celebration: outdoor sports; a restaurant crawl and a pancake breakfast; concerts and art shows; kids’ activities, tours and open houses, ice carving and much more will be featured during Norfolk’s first WINter Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 24 and 25. What’s even better, most of the events are free.

Event Highlights
The Norfolk volunteer fire department will sell fried dough and coffee during the ambulance squad’s ice-carving event, and will man a fire pit at Infinity Bistro for hot cocoa and S’mores. The Botelle School parent/teacher organization will serve refreshments and host kids’ games at the newly revived town ice skating rink. Cocoa will be available at the North Brook rail trail during a snowshoeing event sponsored by the Rails to Trails committee.

Revelers won’t go hungry. Norfolk Net has organized a restaurant crawl late Saturday afternoon at the town’s four restaurants and the Manor House Inn. The Immaculate Conception Church will host a free pancake breakfast on Sunday. And of course, sit-down meals will be readily available at almost any time of day.

Interested in sports? There will be plenty—skating on the town rink, cross-country skiing on one of Norfolk’s many trails, snowshoeing on the North Brook Trail (the committee has snowshoes to lend if you can’t bring your own) and sledding for all ages on the hill behind the Congregational Church on the green (bring your own sled). If you’re not into the outdoors, you can watch Olympic curling on TV and live action at a local club tournament during the Norfolk Curling Club’s open houses.

Music and art will be strongly represented. The Ryan Montbleau Band will perform at Infinity Hall Saturday night. On Sunday, Steve Dedman will be in the Bistro live, and Green River will be featured Friday night for those who arrive in Norfolk early. For classical music lovers, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival is sponsoring a performance by the Magari Quintet in the library on Saturday afternoon and offers the audience the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the music. As for art, there are shows by painters Tom Hlas and Alicia Mordenti, and work by 19th-century photographer Marie Kendall will be on display at the Norfolk Historical Society’s museum.

The library will host Magnificent Microscopes on Saturday morning, and the Norfolk Land Trust’s talk by “bear whisperer” Ben Kilham will be in the afternoon. The hands-on microscope session is intended primarily for kids, but the bear talk is for everyone.

To see a full schedule of events and times, go to http://weekendinnorfolk.org/ or call 860-542-5829. For updates, follow Weekend in Norfolk on Facebook. And save the date: our annual Weekend in Norfolk is coming up August 3, 4 and 5…save the first weekend in August for three days of summer fun.