Connecticut Travel

It will be a night of tricks and treats as Stepping Stones Museum for Children welcomes all into its halls of wonder for the BOO-seum’s annual Halloween party. Celebrate this mystifying holiday the Stepping Stones way at the museum’s Magical Monster Mash on Saturday, October 22, from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. You’re sure to have a monstrously-good time during the museum’s kid-friendly costume party. It’s a night to quench the curiosity in everyone!

The Magical Monster Mash will be a spellbinding night jam-packed with not-so-scary, costumed, family fun. Guests can scamper through the museum to find magical artifacts during a Scavenger Hunt, take Magic Photos with our invisibility cloak, experiment with potions, make their own Wizard Wand or leave behind Magic Messages for their family and friends. Weather permitting; they’ll be able to meander through our outdoor Halloween Maze or view magical Halloween scenes during an outdoor ride on our Magic Train. Back inside, they will also be able to make paper Flying Bats that you can fly in our wind tunnel or learn a few simple magic tricks that will amaze your friends. Speaking of magic tricks, don’t miss Pete and Chris Amusement’s two-man, kids’ comedy magic show, which is almost guaranteed to capture your child’s attention and not let go! And of course, you’ll be able to masquerade through the museum in your costume at the end of our BOO-tiful evening during our SPOOK-tacular Witches and Wizards Walk.

Don’t fret about bringing the littlest visitors. At this Halloween party, we won’t have you crying for your “mummy.” There will be age-appropriate activities for all visitors, so that the whole family can enjoy this costume party.

Dinner will be available in the Stepping Stones Cafe. In addition to its regular menu items, the Cafe will be selling two festive dinner packages. Attendees will be able to purchase the “Mummy Dog” or “Spider Pizza” dinner packages for this year’s Monster Mash. These special dinner packages can be pre-purchased at the time of registration or bought in the Cafe during the event.

Tickets for this event cost $12 per person for museum members and $17 per person for non-members. Children under the age of one will be admitted for free. However, you can take advantage of our Early Bird Discount and receive $2 off each ticket before Sunday, October 16. Magical Monster Mash tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Registration is required. Space is limited and this event is very popular, so register early. Call 203 899 0606, ext. 247, or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/monstermash.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Bellamy-Ferriday House located on 9 Main Street North in the quaint town of Bethlehem is hosting Under a Harvest Moon on October 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Festival goers will enjoy a fall themed afternoon of fun for the whole family.

Event activities include a pumpkin painting contest, live music by Allen and Ian Johnson, aa bounce house, temporary tattoos and goodies, children’s activities and a raffle.

A highlight of Under the Harvest Moon takes place at 2:30 p.m. when a Birds of Prey program takes place. Blue Moon Raptors bring rehabilitated injured and orphaned birds Aviana, Onyx, Cedar and Myles (red-tailed Hawk, Broad Wing Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl and Barred Owl) to Bellamy-Ferriday. Along with rehabilitation, Blue Moon Raptors share the important role they have in our ecosystem to help maintain the balance of nature with educational programs. The Birds of Prey program is sponsored by The Bethlehem Land Trust.

Admission is $5 per person, children 4 and under are free. Raffle tickets are $2 each. Costumes are encouraged for our costume contest, but not required.

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The 1960s were fraught with change,” said McTague-Stock. “The artwork in this exhibition reflects a multitude of changes as societal norms evolved, and whereby art became the experimental voice for many for whom words were not possible. The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, in collaboration with The Westport Artist Collective, will present The Westport Artist Collective Explores the Revolutionary Sixties, a group exhibition opening to the public through January 8, 2017, with a reception on Oct. 27, 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

The artists invited to exhibit include: Bevi Bullwinkel, Miggs Burroughs, Trace Burroughs, Linn Cassetta, Daisy Dodge, Mary Harold, Kerry Heftman, Niki Ketchman, Diane Pollack, Steve Parton, Maryellen Hendricks,, Lynn Poppat, Marlene Siff, Barbara Ringer, Barbara Ringer, Lisa Silberman, Katherine Ross, Binnie Birstein, and Florence Zolan.

One of the artists, Trace Burroughs has sold over 300 abstract paintings, one of which was accepted into the Westport Permanent Art Collection, featuring works by local and international artists including Picasso, Matisse, Calder, and others. During his various incarnations as a national game show contestant, rock drummer, animator, announcer for Nickelodeon, and Guiness Book of World Records holder, Trace has enjoyed national acclaim, and many TV appearances, including an interview with David Frost.

Another artist, Daisy Dodge, Dodge graduated from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus Ohio with a BFA in Advertising Design, with Illustration & Printmaking focus. She loves to take common objects and present them in an uncommon way. Although her method is consistent, the results vary greatly as the process continues to grow and morph as a natural occurrence of repetition. Relying on “a combination of technical precision and happy accident,” each painting forms its own personality through the process of its creation

The exhibit will be on view as part of LMMM’s tours, Wed.-Sun. at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. General Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children and young adults, ages 8-18. The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

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The David M. Hunt Library is now selling tickets for its 15th Annual Auction in the Village to be held on Saturday, October 15 from 5-8pm at the Center on Main in Falls Village. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at the library, by calling 860-824-7424, or by visiting www.huntlibrary.org.

This year’s Auction in the Village will feature live and silent auctions, catering by Ciesco Catering Company, music by Vance Cannon and wine, beer, and the library’s signature Green Man Grog. A silent auction will take place 5 and 7pm with a live auction conducted by Betsy Howie starting at 7:15pm sharp.

The Silent Auction will feature a broad selection of quality auction items including artisan crafts, artworks, items for the home, kitchen and garden, and the season’s hottest new books. Day passes to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, a Kate Spade handbag, tickets to the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and gift certificates from area restaurants.

The Live Auction will have Betsy Howie returning as auctioneer to celebrate the library’s 125 years of service the community. In addition to a pair of premium tickets and a backstage tour of the Broadway hit WICKED, there will be two nights at the top-rated New Orleans B&B La Belle Esplanade. The jewel of the Live Auction will be a European Holiday Markets Viking River Cruise for two with travel taking place by the end of this year. This 8-day cruise focuses on European holiday traditions old and new and includes a Category D cabin and on-board meals. Air travel not included. Choose between four different cruises along the Danube, Rhine, or Seine. Destinations include Paris and Normandy, or Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Slovakia. Plan now for your holiday cruise from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Full details can be found at huntlibrary.org/events/auction-in-the-village.

Auction in the Village is one of the NW Corner’s most popular social events and a great opportunity for the community to support the Hunt Library and make new friends. Dress is casual. Cash and checks only. All proceeds benefit the David M. Hunt Library, a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization.

In October the David M. Hunt Library located on 63 Main Street in Falls Village will host artist Robert Cronin’s self-curated exhibit, “Now ‘n Then” featuring a small selection of his artworks from various years within his very full career. The exhibit will be in on display through Saturday, October, 29.

Mr. Cronin recently turned 80 and, as many know from his Facebook postings, he offers a look at work from various years throughout his career, both abstract and figurative. Lately there are the minimalist paintings on paper in solid colors. In reference to how many pieces he may have in a given series, he said “Some series of paintings through the years are not extensive enough for full exhibitions but can be just as good as those that go on and on.”

At his 80th Birthday Party, a private affair hosted by Mary O’Brien at her now-closed restaurant, Chaiwalla, in Salisbury, Mr. Cronin had selected work to suit the occasion–one piece each from certain series throughout his career. “Now ‘n Then” offers various examples of paintings from such histories over a span of sixty years including student works from R.I.S.D. in the late 1950s, a unique collage/combine from his MFA days at Cornell University in 1961, a small series of strictly black and white oil paintings from 2010 which were done between a larger group of imaginary still life paintings and a following group of minimalist color paintings. Going further through the present, there will be a few very small framed color works from 2011 which were the beginnings of a much larger commitment. Unframed works on paper will round out the exhibit.

Public high points in Mr. Cronin’s career started when he moved to Manhattan in 1980 and lived there until he moved in June 1987 to Connecticut. In those years Cronin was well received with six one-man exhibitions in NYC as well as in England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and Canada. Notable top level exhibitions include a fine show again at the Zabriskie Gallery in NYC in 2007. He muses….”There is still a hopeful feeling that it could always happen again”.

Robert Cronin’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Brooklyn Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Worcester Art Museum, the National Academy and the National Air and Space Museum in D.C., among others. He was awarded two Massachusetts Artists Foundation Grants in the 1970s, an Individual Support Grant from the Gottlieb Foundation in 1991 and in 2008 won First Prize in the Member’s Exhibition at the Washington Art Association in Washington Depot, Ct.

As the sun sets, the spirits come out to play… Take a lantern-lit tour through the old Mill Hill graveyard at the Norwalk Historical Society’s 6th annual, “A Haunting at Mill Hill”, Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2016. Mill Hill is located at 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT.

Listen to NEW chilling tales from eerie Norwalk spirits at 6:00pm, 7:30pm & 9:00pm. Each tour is approximately 1 hour. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at http://www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, starting October 1st. Early bird tickets are available through October 19th. Refreshments follow each tour in the historic 1826 “Little Red Schoolhouse”. Bring a flashlight and a friend! Not recommended for children under 8 years old.

Among the crooked stones of Mill Hill, the ghostly entities are waiting to share their stories of death, murder, destruction and mayhem. Norwalk mobster and murder victim, Luigi Apicella and rabies victim, Myron Olmstead, will be a couple of the ghosts you will meet from Norwalk’s colorful past. All the stories are true and researched by local historians, Madeleine and Ed Eckert.

Watch your back, as you make your way through the graveyard… new ghostly thrills will await you! Local haunted house and special effects experts Greg Kling and George Holomakoff have joined the Haunting team to incorporate a few bone-chilling surprises!

Ticket sales begin October 1, 2016 online at www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Early bird tickets available through October 19th – Adults/Teen: $15.00 & Child (8-12): $10.00. Tickets purchased after October 19th or at the door (if available) – Adults/Teens: $18.00 & Child (8-12): $12.00. The net proceeds support the Norwalk Historical Society’s education programs and museum exhibits. The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

For more information visit www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, e-mail info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org , or call 203-846-0525. For more area information and to sign up for a monthly newsletter www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com