Connecticut Travel

The Sharon Audubon Festival is back and will be taking place at the Sharon Audubon Center, located on Route 4 in Sharon, CT on Saturday, June 13th with several refreshing changes. The Sharon Audubon Festival is an event where people of all ages can learn about nature in a fun and interactive way, and features a full day of nature walks and programs, live animal presentations, children’s activities, food, music, exhibits, local craft vendors and more. Whether one is a seasoned naturalist or a young explorer, there are activities for all ages and experience levels.

This year’s festival will feature several new highlights, including multiple live musical performances throughout the day, including bluegrass music by the bands Mama Tried and Too Blue at 10:30 and 2:30 respectively. Wildcat Creek will perform during a live contra-dance from 12:30-1:30 pm and the lively show will close out the day with a special fun, family performance by The Bossy Frog Band.

The 2015 festival will also showcase a variety of local crafters and vendors, who will be selling beautiful hand-crafted wooden bowls, archery bows, wildlife and nature paintings and prints, cards, children’s books, painted feathers, jewelry, natural soaps and much more. StrEAT Italiano and When Pigs Fly will be offering delicious food items for hungry festival goers and the Sharon Fire Department will be selling ice cream throughout the day!
Concurrent program sessions take place starting at 10:00 a.m. and include canoeing, bats, bobcats, bees, frogs, bugs, pond and stream searches, mushrooms, tracking, birds of prey, edible plants and more. There will be many ongoing exhibits and hands-on activities from other local environmental organizations and a children’s craft tent as well.

A falconry demonstration will take place at 11:30 a.m. Festival gates are open from 9:30 am-5:30 pm each day. The event takes place rain or shine. No pets are allowed inside the gates. Admission is $10 per person OR $25 per carload. A complete schedule and description of programs can be found at www.sharon.audubon.org or by calling 860-364-0520 for more information.

Shakespeare on the Sound has selected “All’s Well That Ends Well” as its 20th anniversary presentation and named nationally renowned Mary B. Robinson to direct The Bard’s subtle and poetic comedy in Pinkney Park June 11-28.

The provocative challenge to the conventions of gender unfolds under the stars in the natural outdoor amphitheater of the park in Rowayton where a family-festive audience assembles on blankets and low-slung deck chairs with picnic baskets crammed with goodies. Admission is free and so is parking nearby. At the same time, donations are collected at the gate, $20 suggested for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Reserved seating is also available for $50. To reserve: www.shakespeareonthesound.org or call (203) 299-1300.

“All’s Well That Ends Well” was selected for the theater’s 20th anniversary from Shakespeare’s inimitable 34-play palette that poetically synthesizes what it means to be human and crackles with wordplay and wit. The sheer lyrical force of Shakespeare’s top layer is engaging but Robinson is committed to adding a dimension that reveals the Bard’s intense passion and extraordinary mastery of the rhythms of life and perplexities of human behavior.
A 3 ½-week-run of the play “Intimate Apparel” at the Westport Country Playhouse last fall—recounting the relationship between an African-American seamstress and a Jewish tailor—is among the 60-plus productions Robinson has directed in New York City and across the U.S. over the past three decades. Judith Ivey has appeared on Robinson’s stage. So have Cynthia Nixon, Jeff Daniels and Buck Henry. Her productions have gained her acclaim from Hartford to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, from Louisville, KY to Seattle and from Cincinnati to Milwaukee.

Her book “Directing Plays, Directing People: A Collaborative Art” (Smith and Kraus, 2012, 188 pages) meanwhile has been described by Pulitzer Prizewinner Edward Albee as “an intelligent and useful guide for both the professional and the casual theater lover.” Robinson intends to mount “All’s Well That Ends Well” in the round,” meaning the audience in Pinkney Park would encircle the stage, just as the so-called “groundlings” did at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater 400 years ago outside London. As opposed to the Elizabethan era, however, she is setting the play in an Edwardian time bend, the early 1900s.

The production runs Tuesdays through Sundays—Mondays are dark as they say in the theater—with patrons permitted to stake out space on the grounds with a blanket or deck chair starting at 4 p.m., 3 ½ hours before the curtain. Most night, one hour in advance, there is a special preview presentation for children.

The Stepping Stones Museum for Children, http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org located on 303 West Ave in Norwalk is celebrating 15 years of family fun this year. They have planned many special events for the month of June including a birthday bash on Monday June 15 that they are calling 15 -on-the-15th. Visitors are invited to join the staff at Stepping Stones for imaginative birthday activities and surprises!

On June 6 at 2 p.m. there is an Around the World program at 2 pm called “Gator Hat.” Participating kids will discover more about alligators and the everglades and make a gator hat. This program has limited space – tickets available at 1:30 p.m. and is good for children ages 2 and older. The following day, June 7 the Stepping Stones is hosting a BooZoo, Bugs and Butterflies Garden Party from 2:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Don’t forget to registration for this event that is $5/person for members, and member guests are $10/person.

A second Around the World program is also being held on June 14 at 1:30 p.m. called Show Me a Tale. This session will feature Allison’s Alligator: A Tongue Twister Tale. Participants will also create a keepsake out box out of recycled shoe boxes and other reusable materials. There is limited space for this event and tickets will be available at 12:30 pm. This program is good for children ages 5 and older.

To round out the Around the World series for the month of June, on June 20 there will be a performance series at 2 p.m. featuring Florida’s amazing animal ambassadors. Kids will be invited to join the Animal Embassy on a journey through Florida, with a diverse group of incredible, live animal ambassadors! Kids will discover how important each animal is to its habitat, while meeting native species such as an American alligator, a common snapping turtle or alligator snapping turtle, a red-eared slider, a green tree frog and a corn snake. Kids will also interact with a number of invasive species which have come to dwell in the Sunshine State, such as a Burmese python, Cuban knight anole or green iguana and an Argentine black and white tegu. Participants will explore how these animals have been introduced to Florida, as well as their impact on the local ecosystem. Animal Embassy allows children to connect with the natural world with this unforgettable, live animal presentation!

The Stepping Stones Museum also offers a series of ongoing programs daily that are free with admission to the museum.

TUESDAYS:
Zelda the Zany Owl 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Learn your ABCs and 123s with our peppy, purple professor. Ages 36 months and younger.
Mutt-i-grees 1:30 – 2:00 pm
For children ages 3 and older.
Enjoy a special canine storytime and discussion followed by a visit from a shelter dog. Shelter dogs courtesy of P.A.W.S.

WEDNESDAYS:
Toddler Tales
Children join in an interactive storytime, followed by an art project in Tot Town. Storytimes:
9:45 am members only; 10:15 am open to all and 10:45 am, Cuentos para Ninos.
Music Time 1:30 – 2:00 pm
Join us for an exploratory musical playtime! Sing, dance and play a variety of instruments.
Zumba Kids 2:30 – 3:00
Join our fitness party, dancing your way to a healthy future!

THURSDAYS:
Junior Gadgeteers 1:30 – 2:00 pm
Calling all mini scientists! Engineer gadgets, devices and inventions of all sorts and sizes.
Art Cart 2:30 – 3:00 pm
Get creative! Try out a variety of art materials and techniques while design a Masterpiece of your own.

FRIDAYS:
Zelda the Zany Owl 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Learn your ABCs and 123s with our peppy, purple professor. Ages 36 months and younger.
Boogie, Bop, Skip and Hop 1:30 – 2:00 pm
It’s time to groove! Simple dance steps and a wide variety of music will have children and caregivers bopping and hopping!

SATURDAYS
Mutt-i-grees 10:45 am – 11:15 am
For children ages 3 and older.
Enjoy a special canine storytime and discussion followed by a visit from a shelter dog. Shelter dogs courtesy of P.A.W.S.

The walk that explores Saugatuck will be on Saturday, June 6 and takes place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. . This walk begins at the train station, where rail service was launched in 1848, making Westport more accessible for visitors and, in turn, giving residents better access to New York City.

Railroad construction brought an influx of jobs, filled mostly by Irish and Italian laborers, and the young community eventually was called Little Italy. In 1958, a swath of buildings bisecting Saugatuck was demolished to make way for the Connecticut Turnpike.

Here are some bits of Saugatuck lore you’ll learn about: The Saugatuck Grain & Supply Company (1929), Luciano Park, the Westport Bank & Trust branch office, the Hedenbury Tin Shop, the Banyan Coffin Tack Factory, the first Saugatuck firehouse, the mattress factory, the William F. Cribari Bridge (the oldest movable span in Connecticut), and the Saugatuck Manufacturing Company, which made buttons from Brazilian ivory nuts. In addition, you’ll hear wonderful stories from people who grew up in Saugatuck when life was simple and family ties strong.

The tour was created to give participants insights into Westport’s history and show how resilient Westporters have been in retaining the character of our town, even as the landscape changes and Saugatuck undergoes an impressive renaissance.
There is a $10 donation, and $8 for members. Ages 12 and under are $5. Reservations are recommended: (203) 222-1424. Meet at the New York Bound Side. Wine and cheese at Westport Auction following the tour.

For more information about the Westport Historical Society visit http://westporthistory.org.

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking located on 299 West Ave. in Norwalk is offering a series of programs perfect for novice and master artists interested in the genre of printmaking.

On June 5-26 for example, the center is offering a 4 week evening workshop from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on painterly etching. In these workshops you will learn to expand your painting or monotype style into the versatile world of etching. Participants will learn to make painterly marks on copper plates which can then be printed multiple times, allowing for endless color explorations as
well as edition printing. This workshop will cover various aquatint techniques that allow for different kinds of marks: spit-bite for soft, watercolor-like washes, sugar lift and soap-ground for clear brushstrokes, and stopout for flat tonal areas. Elisabeth will also demonstrate a variety of special printing techniques, including multicolor registration, inking and wiping à la poupée, and chine collé. Some experience with intaglio printing is helpful, but not necessary.

On June 6 and June 20, take a class with Roxanne Faber-Savage to learn about old plates and new prints and learn how to revive existing plates and create fresh imagery. The sessions are limited to 8 and take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Using stack of oldies but goodies (etching plates, solar plates, collagraph plates, relief blocks etc), Roxanne will demonstrate a range of ways to print old plates in surprising ways. Demonstrations include traditional & non-traditional inking and wiping techniques, chine collè, overprinting, and printing on unusual paper sizes, textures and colors. Following these demonstrations, participants will explore individual projects in the print shop. Walk away with a variant edition or a stack of unique monoprints made from your own plate collection. Only non-toxic Akua inks will be used.

There will be an introduction to letterpress printing on June 21, 28 and July 12 with Amber Heaton on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Letterpress printing is often thought of in terms of type and text, yet there are a variety of exciting image making techniques open to letterpress printers. In this workshop, participants will dive into two of these techniques: photopolymer plates and relief block carving. Participants will learn the basics of printing on a Vandercook no. 4 letterpress, file preparation for photopolymer relief plates, and how to carve a relief linoleum block. Don’t miss your chance to learn how to incorporate the speed, versatility and precision of letterpress printing into your own art practice.

On June 27 there will be a half day workshop on Figure and the Monotype with Nomi Silverman. Participants in this workshop will work directly from a live model, working with printing inks in much the same manner as Degas. The work is then printed with the assistance of the instructor. Subsequent reworked impressions can also be pulled to achieve depth of color, or, as Degas frequently did, a second paler or ghost impression can be printed and used as ground for later pastel additions. This workshop is good for all levels and abilities.
For more information about these and other classes and workshops visit http://contemprints.org

This summer, the Litchfield Hills Road Race is 39 years old and “running strong’. It has been described as “The best little race you have ever heard of.” by Runners World Magazine. This race takes place, rain or shine the second Sunday of every June in the center of Litchfield, a beautiful village in the Litchfield Hills that is well-known for fine dining, great shopping and interesting architecture and natural beauty.

The Litchfield Hills Road Race dates back to 1977 and was based on the famous race held in Falmouth, Massachusetts. From the first race, one of the notable observations from runners and spectators alike, was that there is a feeling of equal appreciation between them. LHRR has seen runners from all over the world, representing Ireland, New Zealand, Kenya, Great Britain, Belgium, Tanzania, Canada, Yugoslavia, Morocco and Poland, keeping pace with some of our more famous American runners, including Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit, Dave Dunham, Randy Thomas, Patti Catalano and Vin Fleming to name a few.

The challenge of this race for participants is to conquer “Gallow’s Hill, rated #8 by Runner’s World Magazine in their list of the greatest, most daunting hills in U.S. races— the hill that made Olympian Bill Rodgers shift to ninth gear! And of course no one wants to miss out on Death Valley” or as our younger generation calls a stretch of the race, the “Microwave Mile.”

Don’t miss the fun at one of the pre-race, race day and after race parties The race begins at 1 p.m. sharp on June 13! For ore information visit http://lhrr.com. For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com