Connecticut Travel

No bird may claim a cultural influence as big and long as the flamingo, and no place in Connecticut is featuring the big pink icons this summer except The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. A small flock, or “flamboyance,” of flamingos will be standing – often, on one leg – in the aviary on the Aquarium’s riverfront courtyard through Labor Day, Sept. 4. The exhibit is free with Aquarium admission.

For family fun this summer, The Maritime Aquarium has more big sharks, the greatest variety of jellyfish, the only black dragon and the ‘greenest’ research vessel, while also being the most affordable aquarium in New England. This flamingo exhibit is the pink icing on the cake. The flamingos exhibit will complement the new IMAX® movie, “Amazon Adventure,” opening July 1 on the Aquarium’s six-story screen.

People love flamingos because they’re just such a big and beautiful and interesting bird. Cultures have been celebrating them for ages – literally – and now you can too at the Maritime Aquarium. Ancient Egyptians are said to have used the flamingo to represent the reincarnation of their sun god. The birds have turned up in cave paintings in Spain and in ancient art of Peru. Alice used a flamingo as a croquet mallet when she went through the looking glass. And, of course, pink flamingos became a cultural icon of leisure and tropical travel in 1950s’ America … although today the image has evolved to represent hip high kitsch.

Displayed at The Maritime Aquarium will be six Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis), a larger species – 4 to 5 feet tall – native to southern South America. They’re distinguished from other flamingo species by their paler plumage, by the downward half of their bills being black, and by their greyish legs with notably pink “knees.” (Although, technically, what looks like their knees are really their “ankles.”)

Chilean flamingos are considered to be “Near Threatened,” with humans representing their main threat because of hunting, egg harvesting and by the loss of – and changes to – their natural habitats. The birds at the Aquarium are on loan for the summer from a zoo in Louisiana. Get details about all of the Aquarium’s summer offerings – including cruises onto Long Island Sound, a mesmerizing expanded jellyfish area, and the new IMAX movie “Amazon Adventure” – at http://www.maritimeaquarium.org.

Established to walk the sidewalks of downtown Danbury, CT, DisH Liv(ing) Walking Tours has expanded to take a peek at its neighboring downtown community of Bethel. On Saturday August 19th, 11:00am to 1:00pm, host Ted Killmer, a downtown Danbury resident, will introduce walkers to a Bethel book store that specializes in all things Connecticut, artisanal makers of 3D chocolates, a mural that celebrates the town’s famed P.T. Barnum’s Jumbo, a fascinating story about a doughboy that became a lamp, a circus school that really sparks, and more.

DisH Liv(ing) Walking Tours is supported, in part, by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, the Walks also receive support by the the more-than-generous participation of eateries, shops, businesses, and local folk who line the day’s Walk.

“I’m so delighted to take on a new Downtown, to uncover it, and revel in it,” says Ted. He suggests that you wear comfortable shoes, bring your camera, and a few friends. “Its about the conversations we have as we walk, not the Walk itself.”

The Walk is FREE, though tips are welcomed. As much as possible, stops are wheelchair accessible, family friendly, and do not require difficult climbs. To participate, reservations are required. RSVP to dishliving@gmail.com with your name, the number in your party, and a phone contact, or call (475) 289 3113. A confirmation will let you know where to meet. The itinerary remains, appropriately, to be discovered.

The Fairfield History Center located on Beach St. is celebrating the anniversary of Gustave Whitehead’s historic 1901 in Fairfield on Aug.12 from 10 am – 2 pm.

View a replica of Whitehead’s No. 21 “Flyer” & see aerial demonstrations of remote controlled aircraft and drones.The first 50 children will receive a balsa wood model flyer to assemble and fly!

At 1pm, Susan Brinchman, author of Gustave Whitehead: First in Flight (2015) will be making a virtual presentation entitled “Flight to the Future: Gustave Whitehead, August 14, 1901, Evidence and Legacy.” She will share strong, new evidence supporting his pre-Kitty Hawk flights and contributions to modern aviation.

The Danbury Historical Society, now in its 75th year of celebrating local history has launched a new exhibition, The Great War, Danbury Answers the Call focusing on World War I.

This exhibit focuses on the contributions of Danbury citizens at home and abroad during World War I. All branches of service are recognized in this fascinating display.

This summer, the Museum is offering an expanded tour schedule through Labor Day and is offering guided tours of the historic buildings (John & Mary Rider House (c.1785), John Dodd Hat Shop (c.1790), The Marian Anderson Studio and The Little Red Schoolhouse) located at their 43 Main St. campus. The guided tours are available daily Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Danbury Museum & Historical Society is a BLUE STAR MUSEUM offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve through Labor Day.

Summertime is the season for sensations in the sky with fireworks, full moons and shooting stars all putting on quite a show. But none will be as spectacular as the total solar eclipse that will sweep across the United States for the first time in 100 years. In anticipation of this colossal cosmic occurrence, Astronomy Week at Stepping Stones Museum for Children kicks off on August 14th and culminates with the Great American Eclipse celebration on Monday, August 21st.

Make Your Own Martian Slime is sure to be a highlight of the week for budding slime-ologists who want to learn how to concoct ooey-gooey alien-inspired slime. Spots will fill up fast for the following time slots:
August 14 – 1:15 – 1:45pm
August 16 – 3:15 – 3:45pm
August 20 – 11:15 – 11:45pm

Each day, little stargazers can drop into the Making Space Challenge to make their own telescope then create what they might see in deep space. Other workshops include
Constellation Games on Mon, August 14th from 11:15– 11:45am and Planet Marble Painting on Sat, August 19th from 2:15 – 2:45pm.

At the once-in-a-lifetime Great American Eclipse experience on August 21st from 1:00-5:00pm, amateur astronomers can see what happens when the sun disappears behind the moon; daylight turns into twilight, causing the temperature drop rapidly and revealing massive streams of light streaking through the sky around the silhouette of the moon.

Visitors can witness the solar eclipse as it is captured streaming live from our very own sky and around the continental United States at the Stepping Stones state-of-the-art Multimedia Gallery.

When viewing this universal wonder, eclipse glasses are needed to protect sensitive eyes. Kids can decorate their very own frames for a spec-tacular keepsake.

Everyone is invited for a fun exploration of astronomy and earth science at Our World and Beyond from 1:30 – 2:00pm.

Interactive models and exhibits throughout the museum allow kids to:
Discover how the particular alignment of the sun, earth, and moon can create shadows and cause an eclipse. Demonstrate their new knowledge using scratch art!
Investigate the stupendous size of the sun as compared to the earth and the moon.
Connect the geometry of a solar eclipse through a storybook about a little bear exploring his own shadow.

Finally, curious minds will take a look back in time to learn about solar and lunar eclipses throughout history and how these events have helped scientists discover more about our own star.

About
Stepping Stones Museum for Children is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are: Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday—Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 am-5pm; and Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm.

Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free. For more information about Stepping Stones, to book a field trip or schedule a class, workshop or facility rental call 203-899-0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

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.