Tag: CT events

Secret of Circles at Stepping Stones Museum for Children

What do a bagel, a ball and a banana all have in common? Cut them through the center and each one has a circle inside! Circles are extremely familiar because they are simply everywhere, but why? The solution to this mystery and many others can be found by exploring Secrets of Circles, a new 2,000-square foot exhibit at Stepping Stones Museum for Children through January 5, 2014.

Circles are pretty amazing shapes. If you look around, you’ll find them in the wheels of a car, the clocks on the wall, the Frisbees you play with or the tortillas on your table. So simple, and yet so incredibly powerful, the circle is found in many places in nature and has been used in many ways by people throughout time and across cultures. But why are they so ubiquitous? What makes them the best shape for both pizza and a barrel? What other secrets can they possibly have?

Discover the secrets at Stepping Stones this fall. Explore this intriguing phenomenon with eighteen interactive, original components that place visitors at the center of experiences rich with the math, science, engineering, and beauty of circles. Whether you are drawing a perfect glow-in-the-dark circle at the Compass Table or building your own gear contraptions in Gear UP!, children and adults alike are uncovering the properties of a simple shape with powerful applications.

Circles are one of the first shapes that very young children learn to identify. As children get older, studying circles helps them understand basic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) concepts. The exhibit is not only educational, but provides hands-on activities that are really fun for children and families.

Secrets of Circles is designed to intrigue a wide range of ages, as well as visitors from different backgrounds. Signage is tri-lingual, (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and spaces are wheelchair accessible. The rich colors, beautiful bamboo plywood, eco-friendly building materials, and cultural and historical artifacts within the exhibit represent people and circles from around the world and over time. The exhibit will inspire many questions and encourage further investigation.

Visit Secrets of Circles and your world will suddenly be transformed into a delicious puzzle for your investigation. After all, circles are everywhere, and each circle has a secret for you to uncover!

ABOUT STEPPING STONES MUSUEM FOR CHILDREN

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. For more information about Stepping Stones, to book a field trip or schedule a class, workshop or facility rental call 203-899-0606 or visit http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are: Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm; and Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday—Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 am-5pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free. To learn more visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org or call 203 899 0606.

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11th Annual Kitchen Tour in Litchfield Hills November 2

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Once again, this year, kitchen fans can look forward to another great line-up of unique and awe-inspiring kitchens offered by the annual Litchfield Hills Kitchen Tour. This highly anticipated tour is known for including a wide range of kitchen styles from cozy country chic to breathtaking ultra modern. The tour has grown in popularity because of the ideas and innovations that participants can take home to their own kitchens. This year, the 11th annual Kitchen Tour to benefit the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society will be held Saturday, November 2, 2013, from 10 am – 4 pm.

Kitchens in Cornwall and Kent are featured on this years’ tour. The kitchens range in style and size to inspire a variety of approaches to the “heart of the home.” This year’s homes include a barn designed for entertaining with a large kitchen island and table with cherry wood from a backyard tree; an Early Modern House finished in 1939 for Pulitzer Prize winner Hatcher Hughes, recently restored by the present owners to its original splendor; a restored barn with two storybook cottages; a house built for large crowds and family get-togethers featuring a beautiful screened-in detached room with a massive stone fireplace; and a center hall colonial that has a large center kitchen island,a bar area and a traditional dining room. An added bit of fun on this tour are the local samplings of goodies offered at each kitchen on the tour.

Tickets for the Kitchen Tour are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the Tour. There will also be a number of raffle prizes offered. Advance Kitchen Tour ticket buyers will receive two complimentary raffle tickets for the various raffle prize drawings. For information, go to www.hmts.org or call (860) 364-6022 or email hmtsct@gmail.com. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

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8th Annual Watertown House Tour Sept. 28

The 8th Annual Watertown House Tour will take place on Saturday September 28 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Five fabulous homes will be featured in this year’s tour.

The Mailhot House at 26 Sunset Avenue was built in 1900 and was originally going to be a barn. Today, this quaint house with its’ split rail fence and lovely front porch has beautiful woodwork throughout and is appointed with furniture made by the current owner. Outside there is a display of classic cars.

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The Guernseytown Schoolhouse at 1121 Guernseytown Road was built in 1848 and served as a school for 84 years until it was closed in 1932. The current living room was the original classroom area.

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Hotchkiss House at 237 Skilton Road built around 1800 has a modern addition. Entering the old section of the house visitors will notice wide chestnut floors, horsehair walls and low sloping ceilings. Interesting collections from the owners’ travels are displayed though out the house.

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The Silo at 25 Caruso Drive overlooks Lake Winnemaug, a man-made lake that was created as a feeder pond for the Oakville Company, also known as the Pin Shop. This house, with its distinctive silo and cobblestone driveway, was designed to look like a barn by the homeowners in collaboration with Litchfield architect Clifford Cooper in 2010.

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The Wasilauskas House at 89 Maple Avenue built in 1910 has the distinction of being in the same family for nearly one hundred years. This arts and crafts style bungalow with its columned wraparound porch recently went through a major facelift, but it remains on the original footprint. Before you leave don’t miss the beautiful grounds and fieldstone barn.

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The Watertown Historical Society Museum and the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street will also be open for viewing.

The Watertown House Tour is a benefit for the Watertown Historical Society Museum in Watertown, CT. The Watertown Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Watertown and Oakville’s history through the Museum.

Advance tickets are $25 per person, and will be $30 the day of the tour. Tickets for this self-guided house tour are non-refundable & can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to:

Watertown House Tour
22 DeForest Street
Watertown, CT 06795

Checks should be made payable to the “Watertown Historical Society”. Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card or Paypal at: www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org

Tickets and maps will be mailed to those that make advance purchases. Advance orders must be received no later than Friday September 20th. Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the Museum.

Tickets are available at the following retail locations: LaBonne’s Market in Watertown, Chubba’s in Watertown, the Health Complex, The Watertown Library, Hosking’s Nursery, Depot Square Farm Shoppe, and Jimmy’s of Watertown. On the day of the tour tickets will be available at all of the businesses, all of the houses and at the Museum, which will be tour headquarters. Call the Museum at 860-274-1050 or view www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

The artist is Lorraine LeRoy.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

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Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Opens 76th Season with: Force of Nature

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A new season, a new brand! The Waterbury Symphony is launching it’s 76th season with a new brand to exemplify the creative and imaginative concert performances that they offer.

The season opening concert, “Force of Nature” set for Saturday, September 28 at 8 pm, at the NVCC Fine Arts Center will feature programming from two American composers; Alan Hovahness and John Williams, sandwiched between works from two European composers, Bedřich Smetana and Ottorino Respighi.

The spotlight will be on the harp when the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra presents “On Willows and Birches.” The soloist will be Ann Hobson Pilot who was a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 40 years, 28 as principal. In addition to the Williams piece, three other composers are on the evening’s program. Smetana’s “The Moldau,” Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” and Hohaness’ “Mysterious Mountain”. Each piece conjures natural beauty and the wonders of nature.

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In addition to the concert, patrons are invited to a Champagne Reception in honor of Ruth Ann Leever, philanthropist and longtime supporter of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, in the Playbox Theater at the NVCC Fine Arts Center, from 6:30p.m. -7:45 p.m. on the evening of the concert. Reception tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased in conjunction with a Premium concert ticket for $75.

Tickets for the Force of Nature concert are $20, $30, and $50. Student tickets are $5, (rush only), please remember to bring your student ID. For tickets or more information, please call: 203-574-4283 or www.waterburysymphony.org.

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2013 Taste of Greater Danbury

The Taste of Greater Danbury is one of the area’s most anticipated family fun annual events that offers a world map of cuisines and music.

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The Taste provides an affordable family outing that provides for every taste and is scheduled for Saturday, September 14 from noon to 10:00pm and Sunday, September 15 from noon to 7:00pm on the CityCenter Danbury Green.

THE FOOD:
A diversity of state, regional, and international cuisines awaits: Italian. Indian, Middle Eastern, Jamaican, Thai, BBQ, South American, and of course, American. Top your tastings off with Ice Cream, Italian Ice, and Dessert. Newcomers include Green Brook Sugar House, Mimi’s Meatballs, The Pretzel Princess, Olive Oil Factory, and Tom Reid Rippin’ Hot Sauce.

THE MUSIC:
On the Bandshell Main Stage

Saturday, September 14

12:00pm – 1:00pm Opening Ceremony -Welcome-Bantam Band

1:00pm – 1:45pm Marc Huberman & Deborah Gillespie

2:00pm – 4:00pm Back to the Garden 1969

4:15pm – 5:15pm Easy Street wth Ethan James

5:30pm – 7:00pm Pete Herger

8:00pm – 10:00pm Edwin McCain

Long time touring friends with Hootie and the Blowfish, Edwin McCain has been recording music since 1991, winning fans with such signature songs as “I’ll Be” and “3 a.m.” His latest – and tenth album, “Mercy Bound,” is a first full-album collaboration with Maia Sharp. This pop-rock troubadour has morphed, over two decades, into a road warrior playing throughout North America most of each year. (McCain will also appear on the Bandshell Main Stage on Sunday, September 15 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.)

Sunday, September 15

12:30pm – 1:30pm The Traveling Danburys

2:00pm – 3:30pm Edwin McCain

5:00pm – 7:00pm Philly LoPresti the Clark Eno Big Band

THE COOKING DEMOS:

On the Fairfield County Bank Ives Street Stage

Saturday, September 14

2:00pm – 5:00pm -An afternoon block party with guest chef and food bloggers cooking up awesome demos, fantastic “penny” beer tastings by Saranac brewery, and “food challenges.” Pro Player Insiders will be on hand with great giveaways, a fun “touchdown dance competition” and surprise current and former pro athletes. Williams Sonoma of Danbury will also be on hand helping out. Your host, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and featured on Food Network, ABC’s “The Taste,” and Jamie Oliver’s “Food Tube” is Chef Plum from Plum Luv Foods, who will be joined by Sarah Caron, Alicia Ghio, Chef Jeanette Chen, and Melissa Mahler. Presented by Fairfield County Bank, Plum Luv Foods and Pro Player Insiders.

THE KIDS’ ACTIVITIES

Balloon Bouncers, Sand Art, and the return of Curious Creatures with their host of alligators, turtles, rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, and geckos are sure to occupy the kids while Mom and Dad share Thai spring rolls, shish kabobs, cannoli, or fajita wraps.

Parking
Parking is readily available at the Patriot Garage (behind the Bandshell), the Bardo Garage (off Main Street on Library Place), and throughout CityCenter. For more information, call CityCenter Danbury at (203) 792 1711.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

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Run for the Woods on September 7

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If you enjoy walking and running on beautiful nature trails then join the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) for the 2nd Annual Run for the Woods on Saturday, September 7 at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area located on Rte. 69 about three miles south of Rte. 4 in Burlington Connecticut.

CFPA advocates for people that love the outdoors and together with the support of the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Fleet Feet they have organized a 10K Trail Race that begins at 8:30 a.m., a 5K Trail Race at 9 a.m. and a 5K walk at 9:15 a.m. at Sessons Woods.

Participants will walk or jog on beautifully maintained trails and will pass by wetlands, meadows, and a beaver pond. Lucky participants may even catch a glimpse of a pileated woodpecker, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and a majestic broad-winged hawk.

Registration fees are $25 for the 5K run or walk, and $35 for the 10k run. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the race. If you can’t join in the events, and love the outdoors, you might consider making a general donation to CFPA or dedicating it to one of the runners or walkers. All donations go to the protection of Connecticut forests and trails. For more information, registration, and pledging guidelines visit www.ctwoodlands.org/runforthewoods2013.

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About Sessions Woods
The biggest threat facing CT’s wildlife is the loss of habitat. Since more than 90% of land in CT is privately owned, the Wildlife Division established the Sessions Woods Management Area to begin to meet the needs of the State’s wildlife.

Sessions Woods is more than a tract of natural land set aside for wildlife, it also introduces visitors to wildlife and natural resources management through a variety of educational programs, demonstration sites, displays and self-guided hiking trails.

When you walk the trails here, you experience more than just the benefits of a healthy hike in the fresh outdoor air. Along the sides of the Beaver Pond Trail, Forest Meadow Trail and in the Backyard Habitat Demonstration Area you will find demonstrations of wildlife and habitat management practices.

About CFPA
The CFPA is Connecticut’s first nonprofit conservation organization that was established back in 1895 and is best known for maintaining the 825-mile Blue Blaze hiking system. Their mission is to protect forests, parks, walking trails, and open spaces for future generations by connecting people to the land. CFPA directly involves individuals and families, educators, community leaders, and volunteers to enhance and defend Connecticut’s rich natural heritage. CFPA is a private, non-profit organization that relies on members and supporters to carry out its mission.

CFPA envisions Connecticut as a place of scenic beauty whose cities, suburbs, and villages are linked by a network of parks, forests, and trails easily accessible for all people to challenge the body and refresh the spirit. They picture a state where clean water, timber, farm fresh foods, and other products of the land make a significant contribution to our economic and cultural well being.
For more information http://www.ctwoodlands.org. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

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