Connecticut Travel

A new exhibit of Kashmir shawls is opening at the New Canaan Historical Society’s Costumes Museum. The shawls shown reflect the preferences of Americans during the Victorian Period. Included in the exhibit are shawls from the 1st quarter of the 19th century through the end of the century. All shawls and costumes are from the Society’s collection.

Deborah Bede, curator of the collection, has described the shawls and presented a history of the weaving process in preparing for this exhibit. Since the opening of the museum in 1968, the Society has acquired a large Kashmir shawl collection, gifted by New Canaan residents. The shawls date from the early to late 1800s, a transitional period in New Canaan and the United States. The country was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution when manufacturing replaced agriculture as the primary economic source.

Just before the Historical Society was founded in 1889, the Town joined the Industrial Revolution with its booming shoe manufacturing industry, bringing with it greater wealth to the community.

It was also the era when the summer residents arrived, with them came the fashions of New York. They built homes, employed local residents and patronized local stores. The shawls shown would have been worn or decorated the homes of many summer residents, topping pianos, covering beds, and draped over furniture. Models display how the shawls would have been worn during this time.

All items shown are generous donations of members present and past. Exhibit hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday – Friday and 9:30am-12:00pm Saturday. The New Canaan Historical Society is located on 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. For more information 203-966-1776 or http://www.nchistory.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

On Saturday, August 29 from 10 a.m. to noon join the Westport Historical Society for their annual kayak tour to Cockenoe Island, a 28 acre island one mile off the coast of Westport.

The tour will be led by David Park, board member of the Norwalk River Watershed Association and author of the guidebook “Kayaking in and around the Norwalk Islands”. ” I love leading this event each year that is both fun and educational. The participants have always been enthusiastic about kayaking out to the Westport island, walking along the shore and hearing about the history of the island and the many migratory bird stories that nest on parts of the island. My favorite part of the discussion is talking about how the stewardship of property by residents within the Saugatuck River watershed can effect the water quality of Long Island Sound and wildlife around the Norwalk Islands”

Cockenoe Island is open to the public thanks to the hundreds of Westport residents and town officials who fought against the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant back in 1967. The plan was brought forward by the United Illuminating Company who had purchased the island a year earlier from the Smith family, the owners of the island at the time. After the plan was defeated, the town of Westport purchased the island as open space and it is now enjoyed by all types of recreational users and nature enthusiasts. The acquisition was heralded as a significant conservation victory for the nation by Life Magazine.

The tour group will land on the island for a stroll and hear about how the Saugatuck River watershed effects the water quality of Long Island Sound and wildlife of the Norwalk Islands. Cockenoe Island is of particular interest because of the current conservation efforts and successful nesting colonies of egrets, herons and terns. $20 fee per boat, Members: $15 , Rain date: August 30 Meet at: Longshore Sailing School, Longshore Park, Westport

Kayak rentals available from Longshore Sailing School, Call 203-226-4646 (single and double Kayaks are available). Intermediate level kayak ability is required.

Copies of “Kayaking in and around the Norwalk Islands” are available for $10 in the Gift Shop at WHS. Registration is required, limited number of boats. Please call us at 203-222-1424 to register.

Corn has long been an integral part of the annual cycle of life for many Native American people and when the first tender ears are ripe for picking it is cause for celebration.
Join IAIS staff and friends at the Tenth Annual Green Corn Festival as they welcome the first corn of the season with music, food, family & fun.

This year they are honored to welcome back the Native Nation Dancers, Schaghticoke, Objiwa and Lumbee, dancing both Northern and Southern Traditional styles and, joining us for the first time, dancers Albert Zamora, Mashantucket Pequot and Althnageebah Myles, Dine.

Storytellers Janis Us, Mohawk-Shinnecock descent and Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke will delight and entertain people of all ages with traditional Native American stories.

This 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! Fee: $10 Adults; $8 Seniors; $6 Children. Under the tent. This event is held rain or shine.

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

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

FRANTIC, the spectacular family thrill ride has made its debut at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury, Conn., this summer was recently named one of the 19 most exciting new theme park rides of the year by America Online (AOL ®).

FRANTIC accommodates eight riders in a circular configuration with the seats suspended on a huge pendulum. The seats spin as the ride swings higher and higher before doing a series of 360-degree flips. The topsy-turvy attraction is located near the Grand Carousel.

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark also features more than two-dozen rides and attractions. Popular rides in the park include the Wooden Warrior roller coaster, Music Fest, Free Fall ‘N drop tower, Paratrooper and the romantic Grand Carousel. Two Kiddieland areas cater to the tots with a variety of children’s rides.

On the shoreline of beautiful Lake Quassapaug, Splash Away Bay is the waterpark located on the lakefront with slides, cascading fountains and a splash pad for smaller children.

In the heart of the park is the Carousel Theatre stage with daily magic shows during the height of the season. Popular events at the stage include dance and karate days, an annual school music festival and a regional Irish dance competition.

Quassy also has a huge redemption arcade, restaurant, games, paddle boat rentals and excursions on Lake Quassapaug aboard the Quassy Queen. For more about the park visit www.quassy.com. For more area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Between Two Worlds: The Photography of Nell Dorr is a retrospective exhibit commemoratong the 50th anniversary of the Horace Mann School’s John Dorr Nature Laboratory in Washington and the 75th anniversary of the Dorr Foundation. Nell Dorr’s photographs and artifacts from the Massillon Museum in Ohio, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Texas, and area residents are featured in this show. New touch screen technology has been incorporated into the exhibit allowing visitors to watch friends and descendants share their stories about Nell Dorr and the lasting impact that she made on their lives and the town of Washington.

In the Meadow; ca. 1954; Gelatin silver print; Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, Gift of the Estate of Nell Dorr; P1990.45.231″ width=”300″ height=”234″ class=”size-full wp-image-3839″ /> Nell Dorr (1893-1988); In the Meadow; ca. 1954; Gelatin silver print; Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, Gift of the Estate of Nell Dorr; P1990.45.231[/caption]

Nell Dorr, celebrated photographer and Washington resident from 1955 until her death in 1988, is best known for her soft-focus depictions of motherhood, family, and children. She first gained notice for her 1934 exhibition at Delphic Studios in New York City, Famous Men, which included images of Carl Sandburg and the man who would become her husband, inventor John Van Nostrand Dorr. Her lifelong dear friend, the actress Lillian Gish, provided entree into the world of well-known individuals.

The other side of Dorr’s artwork features more imaginary settings, children as fairy-like creatures in beautiful natural settings—sometimes mangrove swamps in Florida, other times New England woodlands. Later she created abstract photograms in her darkroom, creating imaginary scenes often with just the light of a kitchen match to expose the images.

Between Two Worlds: The Photography of Nell Dorr is a traveling exhibition organized by the Massillon Museum. The exhibit and program series has been made possible by a grant from the Dorr Foundation. The exhibit will be on display on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m, through Saturday, October 31, 2015. Admission is free. The Gunn Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Rt. 47 and Wykeham Road, on Washington Green. Call 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for more information.

For area event information and more www.litchfieldhills.com

Where’s Waldo? In Washington Depot, of course. The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting over twenty local businesses throughout the community this July. Those who spot him can win prizes, including buttons, book coupons and more. From The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 2 Green Hill Road to The Washington Pizza House at 13 River Road, from The Pantry and KMR Arts, Titus Road to The Washington Art Association at 4 Bryan Plaza, Waldo figures will be well hidden in local business establishments. Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity, and a wonderful way for residents to support local business and the Shop Local movement.

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Washington Depot!” passport with the names of all the participating sites, and get their passport stamped or signed for each Waldo they spot. Waldo seekers who get their passports stamped or signed at ten or more sites can bring their passports back to The Hickory Stick Bookshop to collect prizes. Collecting store stamps or signatures at all of the businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand prize drawing on July 31, with the top prize being a 6-volume deluxe set of Waldo books.

Where’s Waldo is the creation of Martin Handford, whose entertaining drawings of crowd scenes swept the world in the late eighties. Since then, the Where’s Waldo books have held a cherished spot on bookstore shelves the world over. There are now over 63 million Waldo books in print worldwide and they’ve been translated into over 30 languages. An entire generation has grown up searching for Waldo and his cast of wandering companions.

In celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is once again teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and 250 independent bookstores all across the country, including The Hickory Stick Bookshop here in Washington Depot for some hide and seek fun as well as to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses. There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo and Woof in Washington Depot, call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com