Connecticut Travel

The charming town of Norfolk located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills organizes a town-wide weekend celebration of art, music, and nature every August and February. Although most of the events being planned this year for the Winter Win are virtual, Mother Nature permitting, the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department is hosting an in-person event on Saturday, February 20th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Town Skating Rink.

Bring your skates and enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of Norfolk while skating on this pond that is surrounded by the beautiful Litchfield Hills. There will be a bonfire going to keep skaters warm and even s’mores for that extra energy boost! WIN organizers ask that skaters wear masks while at the event and social distance in accordance with CDC protocols. If you can’t make it on February 20th, no worries, the Fire Department maintains the rink through the winter season.

After enjoying your time on the ice, take time to explore all that Norfolk has to offer. There are fabulous hiking trails at Haystack Mountain State Park and at Dennis Hill State Park. The views of the surrounding countryside are spectacular any time of year so don’t forget your camera. Don’t miss the Norfolk Village Green that is located at the junction of Rte. 44 and Rte. 272. Surrounding the green you will see the Stoeckel Estate, home of the Yale Summer School of Music, a Federal-style Congregational Church, a Romanesque styled Church, and the shingle style Norfolk Library that was built in 1888. At the southern tip of the Green is a memorial fountain designed by architect Stamford White. The On-Demand Video featuring an Architectural Tour of Norfolk with William Hosely, a prominent Connecticut Historian, and Preservationist is a fascinating introduction to the many treasured buildings in town. Watch it before visiting Norfolk to get the lay of the land.

If in-person events aren’t on your agenda, Winter WIN has a fantastic number of Live-Streamed and On-Demand videos that will be available to view beginning Saturday, February 20th. There are so many videos to choose from in five different categories including music, art, nature, fun for kids, and more!

There is something to please every viewer on the list. Visit the studio of a costume designer and puppet maker or attend a workshop on winter photography. If you like music, there is plenty of it with everything from a classical Quartet to piano, drum, and guitar performances. If you like the great outdoors take a walk on the wild side with John Anderson or check out Norfolk’s miles of pristine cross country ski trails with Star Childs. If the winter night sky is of interest don’t miss the video with the astronomer, Mathew Moore Johnson.

If you want to try something new to eat, check out the Spanish cooking class with Martina Gago from Santiago de Compostela. Viewers will learn how to make Tortillas de Patatas, one of the signature dishes of Spanish cuisine made with eggs, potatoes, and onions. This tasty dish can be served hot or at room temperature as tapas.

Curling has a long and rich history that is thought to have originated in Scotland in the 16th century. In Norfolk curling has been alive and well since 1956. The On-Demand video shows the camaraderie among the players as well as how the club makes ice!

Animal lovers will enjoy the On- Demand videos by Lost Ruby, Husky Meadows, and Broad Field Farms because they give viewers an inside peek of what life is like on a farm in the winter!

The length of each video and a short description is included on the website. For complete information visit https://weekendinnorfolk.org. The winter weekend videos are slated to go live on February 20. In the meantime to help you pass the weary winter days, the videos from the 2020 Summer WIN are still available to watch on the website.

About Weekend in Norfolk
Now in its sixth year, the all-volunteer WIN Committee organizes two town-wide events annually: the Summer WIN and the Winter WIN. Norfolk’s town officials, the Economic Development Commission, and a multitude of local organizations, institutions, and individuals support these two town-wide festivals.

So many of us are longing to travel. If you have always wanted to go to Iceland then sign up for this live concert offered by White Memorial Foundation that is being streamed directly from Iceland featuring Svavar Knutur on Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m. Members are free and non-members are $10 and link will be sent to you upon registration. Click here to register.

A native of the rugged north of Iceland, troubadour and storyteller Svavar Knútur has dedicated his life to exploring the human condition through the lens of his country’s dark and often tragic history and unique melodies and narrative style. Channeling the angst-ridden serenity of long dark winters and the insomnia of the 24 hour glaring summer sun, this eclectic musician has in recent years blossomed into a sublime singer and songwriter.

Knutur’s songs of misery and redemption deliver a healthy dose of hope in the midst of despair. A humoristic storyteller and avid diver into the murky waters of the human condition, Svavar Knútur sows and reaps a unique mixture of art and entertainment. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. Svavar conjures up every emotion in you and more. He is truly one of the world’s most versatile and gifted singer/songwriters. For a sneak preview click here.

There is nothing as comforting on a cold winters day than cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Winter WIN kicks off on Saturday, February 20 with a series of live and on-demand videos. One of the most anticipated videos is the Spanish cooking class. If you have always wanted to make an authentic Spanish meal for your family don’t miss the ON-Demand cooking class with Martiña Gago.

Tortillas de Patatas (Spanish omelet or Spanish tortilla) is a traditional dish from Spain and one of the signature dishes in Spanish cuisine. It is an omelet made with eggs and potatoes, sometimes including onion. It can be served hot, or at room temperature as a tapa.

Martiña Gago, who will demonstrate this recipe, is from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia). Although Galicia is less known than some of Spain’s more touristed cities and areas like Madrid, Barcelona, or Seville, and has much more in common with the British Isles, it is highly regarded as having some of the best food in Spain. This area of Spain is well known for its simple cooking style and emphasis on high quality, fresh ingredients. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s ubiquitous and can be found on menus from the finest restaurants to truck stops. Spaniards have a very high standard for food, so it’s always good!

Before watching, we suggest you download and print the list of ingredients and equipment needed to make this recipe. Now’s your chance to learn how to make one of Spain’s signature dishes, Tortillas de Patatas (Spanish omelet), made with eggs, potatoes, and (optionally) onions. Bon appetit!

Maple syrup is among the oldest natural food products produced in North America. Native Americans were the first to discover maple syrup and refine the process of how this magically sweet amber elixir is made. If you have ever wondered how sap is transformed into maple sugar then don’t miss the new two-part, in-person outdoor Maple Sugar Workshops at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut on Saturday, February 20, and Saturday, February 27. This hands-on workshop is perfect for people that want to learn about the history of this sweet tradition as well as the ins and outs of making maple syrup. The two-part Maple Sugar Workshop is part of the Institute’s Winter Survival Program taught by Susan Scherf, an Educator at the Institute.

At the first workshop, “The Sweet Taste of Success” on Saturday, February 20, with one-hour time slots running from 11:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. for twenty people per session. Participants will learn the basics of modern maple syrup production. This workshop is designed for backyard hobby producers that want to start collecting sap for their own enjoyment. The first thing participants will learn is proper tree identification and how to prepare the tree for the tapping season. They will learn about tree health and why and when sap flows. The final lesson is to learn about the tapping process, what to look for, and what to avoid, and examples of the different methods of collecting and boiling sap. There will also be a discussion on the impact of climate change on maple syrup production.

The Second Maple Syrup Workshop, “The History of a Sweet Tradition” taking place on Saturday, February 27 also offers one-hour time slots for twenty people running from 11 a.m. to 4 pm. This workshop focuses on the fascinating history of maple syrup as it was produced and enjoyed through the centuries. The workshop begins with a demonstration of the traditional techniques including the collection of and boiling down of sap into maple syrup used by Native Americans living in the Eastern Woodlands. The demonstration will include different traditional technologies used for the collection and boiling process in order to gain an understanding of what methods were used and why. A highlight of the program involves the history of this sweet tradition as participants gather around the fire in the Indian village and listen to traditional Native American stories about maple syrup that have been handed down from generation to generation.

To sign up for Maple Workshop #1, “The Sweet Taste of Success” and Maple Workshop #2, “The History of a Sweet Tradition” visit the museum website in order to reserve a space through Eventbrite or email the museum at events@iaismuseum.org. The workshop is booked in one-hour time slots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for twenty people. The price for each Maple Syrup Workshop is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $11 for children, and $5 for members. If you have questions, call the museum at 860-868-0518. All reservations must be made in advance, as space is limited.

About Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.