Connecticut Travel

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking announces the opening of STILL LIFE on Sunday, September 10, from 2pm-4pm, with an artist talk from 3pm-4pm, featuring Jane E. Goldman, Nancy Lasar, Katja Oxman and Norm Stewart of Stewart & Stewart. The exhibition will run through December 3, 2017.

The exhibition of approximately 40 original fine prints by artists: Jack Beal, Janet Fish, Sondra Freckelton, Jane E. Goldman, Daniel Lang, Katja Oxman and Nancy Lasar, present a variety of techniques including etchings, aquatints, lithographs, monoprints, screenprints, and hand painted archival pigment prints, highlighting the intricacy and beauty of this densely orchestrated genre. A set of progression proofs for a print edition by Katja Oxman will be included, showcasing the range of possibilities and processes within this subject matter. Stewart & Stewart, a printer and publisher of fine art prints in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, will loan a number of original prints to the exhibition.

If you enjoy scotch and want to learn more about it, you can experience the Scottish Highlands at the Norwalk Historical Society’s Scotch Tasting at Mill Hill on 2 East Wall Street on Thursday Sept. 14 at 7 pm.

Gregg Glaser, a nationally recognized spirits and beer connoisseur, will take you on a journey through the Scottish Highlands. Learn how Scotland’s national drink is made, what the different styles are and the history behind this celebrated beverage. A curated variety of six to seven styles of Scotch whiskey will be sampled throughout the night. To add to the fun, guests will enjoy appetizers from local Norwalk restaurants, including O’Neill’s Pub & the Winfield Street Deli.

Tickets: $45.00 per person until September 11, 2017; $50.00 per person after September 11 and at the door (if available). Must be 21 years old+ to attend. IDs will be checked at the door.

On Sunday, September 17, the Kent Historical Society is presenting a program: The First Great Awakening: Fervor and Ferment” as part of its Sunday Series lectures in the Kent Town Hall Sunday, September 17, at 2 p.m. The featured speaker is Thomas Key of Salisbury, who is an instructor for the Taconic Learning Center and a speaker at the Scoville Library, and has given over 75 lectures on a number of historical topics.

In the 1730s, a wave of religious revivals, sponsored by the established clergy of the Reformed Churches, swept the Thirteen Colonies. The fervor disrupted the connection between church and state in New England. These revivals involved extreme emotional displays by the thousands of people who heard the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and various itinerant preachers. Though there was little lasting impact on the religious commitment of the colonies, the ideas presented probably moved the colonies closer to declaring independence from Great Britain.

Mr. Key studied engineering, was a flight officer in the US Navy and retired as a Commander in the US Naval Reserves. His professional career was with an international engineering firm, designing and constructing nuclear and fossil power plants, steel mills, and chemical plants. He’s also had a career as a landscape painter exhibiting in over thirty galleries and invitational/juried shows from Delaware to Maine.

The Sunday Series lectures have been designed to give context to the Kent Historical Society’s 2017 exhibit, “The Founders of Kent,” on the emergence of one New England town in the 18th century. The exhibit and related Sunday Series events are sponsored by the Kent Barns and the Kent Lions Club.

The Kent Historical Society sponsors the Sunday Series every other month September through May. Free admission for members; $5 suggested donation for non-members.

For more information please call 860.927.4587 or visit www.kenthistoricalsociety.org. To sign up for a free monthly newsletter on Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.litchfieldhills.com

This year, a Taste of Litchfield Hills is being held at South Farms on 21 Higbie Road in Morris on September 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is the culinary event of the year that will feature restaurants, specialty markets, winemakers, craft brewers, and others in the beautifully restored white barn and through out this beautiful 90-acre property.

Expect to be wowed at South Farms as participants serve their signature cuisine, curated cocktails and beverages to foodies and fun-loving folk in the area. To add to the fun, there will be two live bands as well as engaging and convivial roving entertainment.

The pre-purchased general admission is $50, which includes food, drink, and entertainment all afternoon. A VIP pass is $100 and provides food, drink, entertainment, private parking, and access to a lounge with TV and food service. Children 15 and under are $20. Day-of-the event tickets are $60 for general admission and $110 for the VIP lounge. You do not have to be 21 to purchase a ticket, however, you do have to be 21 to drink alcohol, so don’t forget to bring along your ID.

Parking is available at the facility. If you are directed to overflow parking there will be a shuttle to transport you to the event and back to your car.

The Kent Historical Society is presenting a special Sunday lecture series that will be held at the Kent Town Hall located on 41 Kent Green Blvd. just off Rte. 7 in the center of Kent. On September 17 at 2 p.m. the Sunday Series will bring guests a program titled, “The First Great Awakening — Fervor and Ferment”.

In the 1730s, a wave of religious revivals, sponsored by the established clergy of the Reformed Churches, swept the Thirteen Colonies. The fervor disrupted the connection between church and state in New England. These revivals involved extreme emotional displays by the thousands of people who heard the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and various itinerant preachers. Though there was little lasting impact on the religious commitment of the colonies, the ideas presented probably moved the colonies closer to declaring independence from Great Britain.

Tom Key, the presenter studied engineering, was a flight officer in the US Navy and retired as a Commander in the US Naval Reserves. His professional career was with an international engineering firm, designing and constructing nuclear and fossil power plants, steel mills, and chemical plants. He’s also had a career as a landscape painter exhibiting in over thirty galleries and invitational/juried shows from Delaware to Maine.

This lecture, as well as future Sunday Series events in 2017, helps give context to the Kent Historical Society’s exhibit in the summer of 2017, “The Founders of Kent,” on the emergence of one New England town in the 18th century.

To sign up for a free monthly newsletter on Litchfield Hills or Fairfield County on things to do and see and special deals visit www.litchfieldhills.com or

 

Hollister House Garden opens their gates for the annual ‘Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants’ Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th. Garden enthusiasts are invited to discover plants from vendors around the greater northeast at the sale. From local Connecticut based nurseries, to specialty nurseries from Maine to Pennsylvania, twelve vendors will be on the premises selling plants and sharing their expertise. Interested plant lovers can choose from two options ‘Preview Buying’ on Saturday, September 9th includes garden admission and cocktail party $45/pp 4-6:00 pm or enjoy the ‘All-Day Plant Sale’ only $10/pp (includes admission to the garden) on Sunday, September 10th from 9am-3pm.

The timing of the annual fall plant sale is ideal for autumn garden planting, since there is plant of time to get plants in the ground before cold weather sets in. “This is a great opportunity to find some very special plants not generally offered in the nursery trade,” says George Schoellkopf of Hollister House Garden. Specialist growers offer the latest hybrids in addition to hard-to-find classic shrubs, trees and herbaceous perennials. Participants are encouraged to tour the garden after shopping.

The twelve nurseries that will be on premises for the ‘Rare and Unusual Plant Sale’ include; Broken Arrow Nursery, Cricket Hill Garden, Falls Village Flower Farm, Garden Vision Epimediums, Huntington & Hope, Linden Hill Gardens, McCue Gardens, Meadowbrook Gardens, Oesco, Inc, Opus Plants, Rare Find Nursery and Snug Harbor Farm. “The annual fall plant sale at Hollister House offers an unrivaled selection of rare plants with the splendid backdrop of the garden in its full late season glory. It’s like Trade Secrets, but in time for fall planting and bit more mellow. Cricket Hill Garden will be bringing some fantastic peonies and pawpaws and persimmons.” says Dan Furman of Cricket Hill Garden.

The Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants ‘Preview Buying and Cocktails in the Garden’ tickets for Saturday, September 10th are $45 and available through reservation at https://hollisterhousegarden.org/events/preview-buying-sale-rare-unusual-plants-cocktails-garden/. Tickets for the ‘All-Day Plant Sale and Garden Admission will be available for $10 purchase at the gate. Please visit http://www.hollisterhousegarden.com for more information.

Hollister House Garden is open to visitors through October 7. Friday hours are 2-5PM 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.