Connecticut Travel

Saturday, August 12 is your chance to learn some of what makes the magic happen behind the curtain along with the history and lore steeped in ninety-five years as an entertainment venue during the Waterbury Palace Theater’s monthly tour from 11a.m. to 12:30p.m. Admission is $5.00 per person and can be purchased online at http://www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St. in Waterbury. Groups larger than ten people are asked to contact the Box Office to book their reservations in advance.

During the tour, attendees are led through nine decades of the theater’s entertaining history including facts and some lore, while viewing and learning about the stunning architecture and backstage magic related to the Palace story. In addition to exploring the public spaces, tour takers will have the opportunity to visit hidden areas that are off limits to patrons attending shows or events, such as the green room, wig room and star dressing rooms. You can even stop to take a selfie at the stage door.

Tour takers will also be able to experience the thrill of walking across the stage and viewing the venue’s hidden backstage murals featuring show motifs painted and signed by past performers and Broadway touring company cast members. Guests will also browse a collection of the theater’s pre-restoration photos, in addition to viewing elements from the Palace’s Tenth Anniversary History Exhibit, which include a visual timeline of historic milestones dating back to 1922, as well as original theater seats from the 1920s.

The tour is 90 minutes and is led by a team of engaging volunteers well-versed in the theater’s rich history, architectural design and entertaining anecdotal information. The walking tour covers five floors of history and architecture, including grand staircases from the 1920’s. While elevator access is available, guests with challenges walking or climbing stairs or other health concerns are asked to inform the Box Office ahead of time, so that the tour guides can make accommodations in advance to insure a pleasurable experience for all.

In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly dates, the Palace tour makes a memorable activity for alumni groups, client cultivation and other groups. Accommodations can be made for private tours that include refreshments or lunch. For inquiries contact Deirdre Patterson at 203.346.2011.

For general information about the venue visit www.palacetheaterct.org.

The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy located on 55 Duck Pond Road in Litchfield is one of the few facilities in the United States that offers a falconry experience run by Master Falconer and LRWC’s Director of Aviculture Nick Tiberio.

Master falconer Nick Tiberio is the Director of Aviculture at LRWC and has 16 years of experience working with birds of prey. He has hunted and flown a wide range of raptor species including hawks, falcons, and owls. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Nick worked as a professional abatement falconer in New York, training and flying a team of abatement falcons to deter pest birds from landfill grounds.

Participants in this unique experience will personally interact with birds of prey as well as learn about heir adaptations, conservation, and how they are trained and handled for falconry while watching their free-flight. It is an unforgettable experience to have one of these magnificent birds land on your gloved hand.
Falconry experiences will included a lesson on the the fascinating history of falconry, the equipment, the birds and their training as well as learning about the biology, life history, and conservation of birds of prey. There will be free flight demonstrations as well as a hunting demonstration, hawk walk and the chance to meet the Conservancy’s owls face to face.

LRWC is home to a diverse group of Birds of Prey that includes: Harris’s Hawk named “Alula”, aSaker Falcon named “Paris”, a Eurasian Eagle Owl named “Camo” and a Barn Owl named “Poppy”. Each bird has unique adaptations that make it a top predator in its respective environment and thus each brings a fascinating perspective to our falconry experiences.

The Introductory session is $100 per participant and $25 per non participant and includes handling and flying a a trained Harris’s Hawk while learning about raptor behavior and conservation.

A hawk walk that consists of a walk in the woods with a trained Harris’s Hawk flying back and forth from your glove to the trees while learning about raptor behavior and conservation is $150 per participant and $35 per non participant. The 90 minute extended experience where you will meet all the birds of prey os $225 per participant and $50 per non participant.

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

Liliana Kleid considers her work a celebration of life and nature, often changing courses along the way. It is her goal to honor the magical moments nature offers by using color, composition, and lighting, and to show the viewer something lively they wouldn’t normally get to see.

She is always experimenting with different media and lately has been working with oils, acrylics and inks. Reflected in her work are the bold colors of indigenous crafts, clothing, and textiles that she was surrounded by growing up in Peru. After years of traveling and experiencing new creative forms, the influence of Peruvian artwork’s vibrancy has informed her passion for abstract depictions of nature. This series of paintings is inspired by her latest trip to the coasts of both Italy and Spain, where the deep blue colors of the Mediterranean waters were always in her view.

Liliana was born in Lima, Peru. She came to the United States with her American husband, Peter, in the early 1990s. They have been living in Litchfield for the past 15 years, with their two daughters and two poodles.
In between the development of each of her personal works, Liliana spends her time teaching art classes at the Litchfield Montessori School, and managing her boutique and gallery, Serendipity, in the center of Litchfield. In each of her projects, she promotes the integration of sustainability and creativity through the use of recycled and handmade materials.

In the Jamie Gagarin Community Room and Gallery: July 6- August 31, 2017. Opening reception on Thursday, July 6 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. At the Oliver Wolcott Library, 160 South Street, Litchfield, CT. 06759. 860-567-8030, http://www.owlibrary.org.

Corn has long been an integral part of the annual cycle of life for many Native American people. A festival is always planned to celebrate the first tender ears of corn that are ripe for picking…and enjoying.

Join IAIS staff and friends at the 13th Annual Green Corn Festival on August 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. l as they welcome the first corn of the season with music, food, family & fun.

This year’s performers will be the Eastern Suns they are honored to welcome back the Native Nation Dancers, Sdrum group and the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancer. !

This fascinating cultural event highlights fun-filled activities for the whole family including drumming, dancing, kids’ crafts, storytelling, powwow style food, the sale of arts and crafts and much more! Admission for this event, held rain or shine is $10 for Adults; $8 Seniors; and $6 for Children.

The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut. For more information 860-868-0518 or www.iaismuseum.org

The dog days of August? Not in Kent! If your idea of fun is great sales, fabulous food, toe-tapping tunes and jaw-dropping vintage cars, Kent is the place to be the first weekend of August.

Running from Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, August 6 this year, the Festival is free and offers super-sized retail therapy as well as entertainment for the whole family. Special fun for kids will include a “National Clown Day” event on Saturday morning sponsored by the Kent Memorial Library and face painting at the Fife ‘n Drum Gift Shop on Saturday (all proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s Association’s CT Chapter.)
Kent’s unique and charming shops offer not-to-be-missed sales that include Heron American Craft Gallery, Rolling River Antiques, Main Street Antiques, Koblenz & Co. Antique & Estate Jewelry, The Covered Wagon Country Store, Bella Jewelers, the Fife ‘n Drum Gift Shop, Foreign Cargo, Terston Home Accents & Apparel, Sundog Shoe & Leather and Pantages Gems & Jewelry. NAPA Auto will have some great specials and savings on discontinued tools. The Painted Can will have discounts on Annie Sloan® products and the Chalk Paint® 101 workshop on August 6.

Fabulous food offerings include lunch and dinner specials and discounted prices on margaritas and draft beers at the Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant. Stop by 10 AM to 4 PM at Annie Bananie Ice Cream for breakfast sandwiches, burgers, & hot dogs and their Annual “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” on Friday evening. They will also have Sakura Blade and Tool Sharpening at the store each day of the festival from 10 AM to 4 PM.

St. Andrew’s Church will once again hold its Annual Tag Sale on Friday and Saturday at the Parish Hall. Early Bird Buying on Friday from 8:30 to 10:00 AM ($10 charge). No admission fee during regular hours on Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Make sure to stop by the Kent Memorial Library for their Annual Book Sale and to purchase raffle tickets for a 1998 Porsche Boxster. The Chess Court will be alive with chess enthusiasts from amateur to experienced levels. Relax and stroll through the KML Gallery to view the exhibit featuring South Kent artist Linda Petrocine. The library also has public bathrooms available during library hours.

Vintage cars parade through town and park on the Kent Green on Saturday August 5 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM during Kent Car Cruise Night. Stop by to check out the cars and enjoy some music and great food.

Other happenings include the Kent Art Association’s Annual President’s Juried Show, and, on Saturday, right across the street, there will be a showcase of some local race cars and free popcorn & giveaways at NAPA Auto. Complimentary snacks and beverages to all visitors at the W. David Herman Gallery where they can view the work of local artist Steve Balkin.

Kent Yoga & Bodyworks will offer a big savings for first time students on their 9:30 AM yoga class on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th. $10 per class! Annie Bananie Ice Cream will offer Caricatures by Emily, Henna by Elyse, Charms of the Heart (pick a charm, create a bracelet) and Fascia Chocolate’s Sweet ‘n Salty Tasting.
Check out all the events – and the full array of great activities – as we get closer to the event on www.kentct.com or contact the Kent Chamber of Commerce at 860-592-0061.

Before the days of television and mass media, baseball had distinctly local roots. Passionate fans in small towns across the nation turned not to Yankees, Dodgers, or Red Sox for their baseball fix, but to their local semi-pro or minor league teams and the new exhibit presented by the Wilton Historical Society called Farm Team: 50 Years of Wilton Baseball explores these roots. The history of Wilton Baseball traces the story of the Farmers, Wilton’s quintessential small town baseball team, through approximately 20 photographs and objects related to the team.

Founded in 1921, the Farmers quickly became one of the most popular attractions in town. Crowds could reach up to 1,000 people, or roughly half the population of Wilton at the time. The Farmers played teams from as far away as Poughkeepsie, New York, and their games were front page news in The Wilton Bulletin. “I have to say, one of my favorite things about the Farmers is how much fun they had. There are some great stories about their wacky promotions, including donkey baseball,” said Nick Foster, exhibition curator.

There would have been no Farmers team without Charlie Orem (1882 – 1973), owner of Orem’s Dairy and later Orem’s Diner. Orem, along with Johnny Knapp and Charlie Myers, founded the team as a way to bring in customers for Orem’s businesses. Orem built a baseball diamond on a piece of his farm land, soon named Orem’s Field, where the team would play its home games. Fans in attendance were encouraged to buy concessions from the dairy and diner located next to the field. The team, sensibly named the Farmers after their founder and home field, remained in Wilton, in one form or another, until 1970, with only a small break during World War II.

The Wilton Historical Society is located on 224 Danbury Road in Wilton. For more information visit their website.