Connecticut Travel

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is pleased to announce that the award-winning spoken-word performer, poet, playwright, author, writing teacher, and former journalist, Patricia Smith will conduct virtual poetry reading at 7 pm on November 19 of selected works followed by a Q&A. Her dazzling performances earned her the individual championship at the National Poetry Slam a record four times. Signed copies of Smith’s latest poetry collection, Incendiary Art, will be available at Books on the Common in downtown Ridgefield, CT.

Patricia Smith is the award-winning author of eight books of poetry, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Incendiary Art, winner of the 2018 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, the 2018 NAACP Image Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her work has appeared in Poetry magazine, the Paris Review, The New York Times, TriQuarterly, Tin House, the Washington Post, and in both Best American Poetry and Best American Essays. Smith is a professor at the College of Staten Island and the MFA program at Sierra Nevada College, as well as a frequent instructor at prestigious writing conferences.

Registration is required at www.thealdrich.org.

​The origin of Veterans Day goes back to Nov. 11, 1918, and is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended World War I hostilities between the Allied Nations and Germany. As many of us remember and honor those who have served the United States in the military, many of us remain unaware of the major contributions Native Americans have made to our armed forces. Native Americans served in the U.S. military in greater numbers per capita than any other ethnic group and have served with distinction in every major conflict in our history. Each year IAIS honors local Native Americans who have served our country in a special ceremony in keeping with the mission of the Institute and in honor of Veterans Day. The Native American Honoree for 2020 is John Q Mitchell.

John Q Mitchell is on the rolls of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe. John’s family has a long history of service, one that dates back prior to the founding of the United States. John’s tribe has documented his direct lineage from Paugussett people who served in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and many of the actions between these major wars. In World War Two, John’s dad, John Q. Mitchell was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Silver Star Medal.

Like his father and namesake, John has an impressive and long record of military service. John is a Vietnam Veteran who enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1969 and retired as a TSgt. after 22 years, in 1991. Following Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, John was assigned to Myrtle Beach AFB, from 1970-1971. He was then sent to Thailand in 1972 in support of F4E Phantom Fighter/Bomber Jet Aircraft and the heavily armed AC-130 Spectre ground attack and close air support gunships. John’s involvement in Vietnam includes Operation Freedom Train and Operation Linebacker II, air campaigns over North Vietnam.

John’s service to the United States didn’t end after the Vietnam Air Campaigns. He went on to serve at Ellington AFB, Texas, as an instructor for Air National Guard personnel. John’s military career took him all over the United States as well as to the United Kingdom and the Philippines. John conducted Intelligence Operations out of King Salmon Air Force Station, Alaska. His next assignment was at Peterson Field in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, where he was on staff for General Chappie James. John also spent four years at Royal Air Force Base, Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, as well as at McGuire AFB in New Jersey, George AFB in California, and Clark AFB in the Philippines. John’s last assignment was at Lackland AFB in Texas, the place where his career began.

John’s career has also included some interesting and high profile assignments. He was the Operations Logistics Manager, deployed to bring the Shah of Iran to exile on Panama’s Contadora Island. He was also the Operations Logistic Manager that brought Ferdinand Marcos and his family from the Philippines to exile in Hawaii. One of John’s most solemn duties was to support numerous operations that return the remains of America’s KIA’s.​

The ceremony at the Institute for American Indian Studies was held on November 8, 2020. The ceremony included drumming and a smudging ceremony and was conducted in the outdoor village.

The Renowned American Artisan Show sponsored by the Wilton Historical Society is returning virtually this year, November 5- December 5. The 35th Annual American Artisan Show is the highlight of the season. There will be everything from fine and folk paintings to tramp art and much much more.

Fifty highly-skilled artisans from across the country will be presenting their work online and its influences that have been part of American fine handwork since the 18th century. Every purchase benefits the Wilton Historical Society. Shaker-style furniture, pottery, baskets, candles, quilts, Windsor chairs, rugs, floor cloths, art, tavern signs, fine jewelry – and even beautifully turned peppermills will be available for purchase. A highlight of the show is the silent auction.

Don’t miss the tips page on how to navigate this website. It is easy and fun to use. To start shopping online click here. The Artisan Show is a fundraising event so no tax is charged on purchases. Please consider checking YES to covering credit card processing when you check out to offset fees to the Historical Society. Thank you!

The Warner Theatre in Torrington is hosting the 9th annual Playwrights Festival virtually this year beginning November 6 with “The Ties That Bind” – from the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre beginning at 7 p.m. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be a virtual event. Each production will be available to view online for a period of two weeks before being taken down. There is no fee to watch but donations are always accepted. This virtual festival is made possible with a generous donation from The Marine Family.

Tonight’s production is FINAL REST by Victoria Z. Daly from Connecticut, and stars our very own Isabel Carrington and Emily Creighton from the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education!

ABOUT FINAL REST by Victoria Z. Daly (CT) Directed by Sharon W. Houk. Chris returns to her empty childhood home to help resentful sister Beth sprinkle Mom’s ashes in the backyard garden. Time’s up the house will be sold tomorrow. But Chris, unprepared to let go, proposes a plan that threatens to ruin everything. FINAL REST will remain available for viewing until November 19 at 11:59 pm. To view the show click here.

The remaining streaming schedule for the winning playwrights:

DIRECTIONS by Penny Jackson, NY (11/20-12/3)
AN INVITATION TO MY CIRCUS by Charlene Donaghy, CT (12/4-12/17)
ANALOG by George Kelly, NH (12/4-12/17)
PUT ON A GRUMPY FACE by Reed Halvorson, SC (1/1-1/14)
GOOD MORNING by Anne Lucas, MA (1/15-1/28)
PERMANENT INK by Charlene Donaghy, CT (1/29-2/11)
FOLDED by Bara Swain, NY (2/12-2/25)
EXTENDED PLAY by Ben Marshall, NJ (2/26-3/11)
RELATIVITY AND ME by Len Cuthburt, Ontario, Canada (3/12-3/25)
MOTHERHOOD by Lawrence Aronovitch, Ontario, Canada (3/26-4/8)
SAUL by Colleen O’Doherty, NE (4/9-4/22)

This weekend the weather will be warm and sunny making it the ideal time to sip wine in the courtyard at Jones Family Farm Winery. They are offering only two more weekends of outdoor table service for the rest of the year! As they do at this time every year, the indoor tasting room becomes a festive holiday gift shop and wine store.

If you decide to go don’t forget to make your reservation to visit during these final weeks of table service. Sip mulled Harvest Time for $7 per glass. Please note that the November hours for table service are Thursday through Sunday, starting at noon with the last seating at 3pm.

With a deposit, reserve a large table outdoors for 4 to 6 persons. Depending on the weather, the hours will be Thu-Sun, 12 to 4:30, with the last reservation at 3:00. We will post the available dates for the upcoming weekend early in the week. Bring a small blanket and dress warmly, there is no heat source. Medium tables are also available for one to three people.

The Vineyard is also offering a Winter Special that is the perfect way to usher in this heartwarming season. Harvest Time, Beacon Light 8, and First Blush are great with holiday fare or simple dishes. 20% savings make it a great gift to give or enjoy.

The Mulled Wine gift package includes two bottles of wine, mulling spices, and a recipe card along with two Jones winery glasses. Artfully packaged and perfect for giving. $54.95 plus tax.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Gunn Historical Society has decided not to host an in-person cemetery tour this year. Instead, the Gunn Historical Museum’s 13th Annual Washington Cemetery Tour will be pre-recorded and posted on the Museum’s website www.gunnmuseum.org and social media channels at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 30 and will remain there for future viewing.

The Washington Cemetery Tour is an annual “living history” event that showcases the rich history of Washington using costumed actors to portray residents from the past. In this year’s tour, we will be sharing stories from 100 years ago, including those of Washington, Connecticut suffragists, bootleggers, and those who faced the flu pandemic of 1918. The tour is produced by the Gunn Historical Museum with support from local theater luminaries Doug and Martha Winkel of the Washington Dramalites. Videographers, Philip Dutton and Ulrich Vilbois are the creators of the film.

For more information contact the Gunn Historical Museum in Washington, CT at 860-868-7756 or info@gunnhistoricalmuseum.org or visit the website