Tag: CT Travel

Music extravaganza at Music Mountain Aug. 17 & 18

Music Mountain located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills has planned a musical extravaganza this weekend. On Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. the Galvanized Jazz Band returns to this venue for the 20th year with their high energy, exciting Dixieland, Blues and Stomps.

The Galvanized Jazz Band
The Galvanized Jazz Band

The Galvanized Jazz Band with its sparkplug leader cornet player Fred Vigorito and a group of hard playing skilled and very experienced colleagues will deliver another great show as they have done at Music Mountain for 19 years. This will be their 20th year here and will feature two special guests: Bob Price, banjo and Jim Fryer, trombone.

Dover String Quartet
Dover String Quartet

On Sunday, August 18 at 3 p.m., the Dover String Quartet returns for their second appearance this summer. They bring with them their recent European touring partner Roberto Diaz, a wonderful violist and president of the Curtis Institute, from which all the members of the Dover Quartet graduated.

In keeping with our 2013 theme, they will play 2 pieces seldom played at Music Mountain. The concert opens with the Haydn String Quartet in B Flat Major, Opus 76 # 4, one of the last instrumental pieces that Haydn wrote, which will receive only its 7th Music Mountain performance. The concert will close with Roberto Diaz joining the quartet to play the Mendelssohn Viola Quintet in B Flat Major, Opus 87 for its 2nd Music Mountain performance.

The middle piece is the Beethoven String Quartet in E Minor, Opus 59 # 2. It is performed at Music Mountain regularly and is a basic part of our repertory. One of the three Rasoumovsky quartets, this is the one with the Russian theme from a patriotic hymn in its third movement, the same melody that can be found in the opera Boris Godunov and other works by Russian composers, including the Arensky Quartet for 2 cellos, which was played on August 4.

Tickets
Saturday, August 17, Tickets in Advance: $30 Tickets at the Door: $35
Sunday, August 18 Tickets in Advance: $30, Tickets at the Door: $35

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut, in the northwestern corner of the state, approximately 100 miles or 2 1/2 hours from New York City.

Entrances to Music Mountain Road are on Route 63 near the junction of Route 126, and on Route 7, across from the Housatonic Valley Regional High School From the Route 7 turnoff, bear left at every intersection.
From either entrance, a short scenic drive will bring you to Gordon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Arrive early, bring a box lunch or dinner and enjoy a stroll around our lovely grounds.

Buy your tickets online at www.musicmountain.org or Call 860.824.7126. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Sharon Audubon Festival in Litchfield Hills

The Sharon Audubon located on Rte. 4 in the bucolic hamlet of Sharon Connecticut is hosting its’ 46th annual Audubon Festival on August 10 and 11. Gates to the festival open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. each day. Admission to the event is $5 per person or $20 per car load.

The Audubon Festival that takes place in the northwest corner of the Litchfield Hills features fun and interactive ways families can learn about nature. The staff of the Audubon have scheduled two full days of nature walks and programs, live animal presentations, and children’s activities that will engage kids and teach them about nature in addition to food, music, exhibits and a select number of vendors.

Scheduled programs such as Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe, a Tree Identification Walk, Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees, Bird Banding, making Pressed Flower Bookmarks and much more will take place at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. each day. The Festival will also host a number of ongoing activities such as the children’s Merry Marsh Activity Tent.

There will be two keynote presentations that will take place each day that is perfect for everyone whether they are a seasoned naturalist or a young explorer. At 1:00pm on Saturday, storyteller Eshu Bumpus will present his engaging “Folktales,” sure to please young and old alike. A highlight of the day will take place at 3:30 p.m. when there will be a falconry demonstration by Brian Bradley of Skyhunters in Flight.

On Sunday, at 1 p.m. “Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures that feature 10-12 animals from all corners of the world will entertain festivalgoers. The grand finale of the festival will be an appearance by Atka the Wolf from Wolf Conservation Center at 3:30 p.m.

For up to the minute information on the festival visit www.sharon.audubon.org by August 1st or by calling 860-364-0520 for more information. For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

JanetLeave a comment

Farms and Barns Art Show at The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm in Litchfield Hills

February - Eric Sloane
February – Eric Sloane

The Silo Gallery at Hunt Hill Farm located in the Litchfield Hills on 44 Upland Rd. in New Milford Connecticut is hosting an opening reception on Friday, August 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for the new Barns and Farms Exhibit that runs through October 5. Tosto, Laurence Neufeld, son and nephew of the Neufelds, and Art Kerber, of Millerton’s Green River Gallery who is offering a selection of Eric Sloane paintings, will be greeting guests at the reception. The artwork in the gallery is available for purchase, and Tosto will also be accepting future commissions.

Woldemar Neufeld
Woldemar Neufeld

This exhibit that is hung in the hayloft gallery at The Silo features the work of some of the areas best known artists: Eric Sloane and Woldemar Neufeld. Also on display will be works from Kate Neufeld, Woldemar’s sister, and by Merryall resident Frank Tosto.

The artists, each in their own style, have documented buildings, vistas and the history of their era. While the Neufelds and Sloane are deceased, Tosto carries on the tradition of recording the landscapes of our time for posterity.

Frank Tosto
Frank Tosto

This exhibit shows that barns are are more than just buildings. They are a witness to centuries of change. In this era of sustainable agriculture, part of the mission at Hunt Hill Farm is their focus on teaching future generations the importance of farming and barns through active adaptive usage of our historic buildings.

The Barns and Farm exhibit will be augmented in September by the addition of Barn Again, a retired Smithsonian Institution Main Street exhibit, now in the hands of Hunt Hill Farm.

The Silo Gallery and Store are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please call Liba Furhman at (860) 355-0300 or visit http://www.hunthillfarmtrust.org.

For area information http://www.litchfieldhills.com.

About The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm
Drawing on the creative legacy of Skitch and Ruth Henderson, the Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, is a vibrant and unique regional resource, offering the public opportunities to explore music, art, cuisine, and permanently protected historic open space.

JanetLeave a comment

August Concerts on Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk

Summer nights in Norwalk mean music by the Sound, and there is no better place to enjoy a concert as the sunsets than at Calf Pasture Beach. In addition to music, four concert evenings begin with a classic car show organized by The Coachmen for several hundred-car buffs from throughout the tri-state area.

On August 1, Calf Pasture Beach welcomes Dinoman at 6:30 p.m. Fun for young and old alike, Dinoman ((a.k.a. Bob Lisaius) with the help of life-size inflatable dinosaurs, and his raccoon Reflex (a.k.a. Paul Lavarek) combine audience participation, magic and mayhem to explore how fossils are made and what the earth was like when dinosaurs roamed the area. At 7:30 p.m. Diamond- One Hot Night takes the stage. This ensemble features vocalist Tommy Lynn and a ten-piece band from New York. Sure to delight, this show replicates Neil Diamond’s career from start to today. Musicians in the band have played and collaborate with performers like Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Michael Jackson, Enrique and Julio Iglesias, Bruce Springsteen,Tommy James, and Gary U.S. Bonds.

2011Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke takes the stage on August 7 at 7 p.m. This award-winning band has been entertaining Country & Western music fans in the Northeast for more than 20 years. The band now is receiving national attention after its performance on “Ernest Tubb’s Midnight Jamboree,” America’s second longest-running radio show, which is broadcast from Nashville, TN, following “The Grand Ole Opry.” Members of the band are Jeff DeMaio (steel guitar), Nick DeMaio Sr. (acoustic guitar), Nick DeMaio III (bass guitar), Gary Tokarz (drums) and Scott Tyler (electric guitar). Please note there is no rain date for this show.

A Classic Car Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. on August 14 is followed by the music of The Barons. The audience will be transported back to the 60s and 70s with one of the tri-state’s hottest “oldies” groups. The Barons are known for their 1963 hits, “Pledge of a Fool”, “Remember Rita” on Epic Records, and “Possibility” on Old Town Records under the name of The Crowns. The Barons have shared the stage with such groups as Brenda Lee, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Tokens, The Drifters, The Shangri-las, Lloyd Price, The Del Vikings, The Teenagers and The Chantels. The vocalists, led by Ronnie deAngelis, are Doug “Ice” Dorsey, Doug Muller and Francine Rodriguez backed by Tommy Ardise (guitar/arranger), Dom “Cuz” Cardamone (keyboard/bass guitar/drums/saxophone), Barry Nardi (bass note/lead guitar), Michael “Stix” Bossone (drums) and Ron Yovino (bass guitar).

Beginnings_Promo_Shot

On August 21 at 7:30 p.m. concertgoers will enjoy the music of Beginnings. This tribute band brings to life the music of Chicago, recreating songs from every decade of that group’s hits. The veteran New York musicians featured in the band are Jason Chapman (trumpet), Adam Colombo (drums/vocals), Rob Cutts (tenor sax), Joe DeMaio (guitar/vocals), Ed Leon (trombone/vocals), Marty Safran (keyboards/vocals), Adam Seely (alto sax) and Mason Swearingen (bass/vocals). Please note, there is no rain date for this show.

minute by minute

The last concert in August, on August 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m. is a performance by Minute by Minute. This Doobie Brothers tribune band features Nick Ambrosino (keyboard/vocals), Tom Huber and Larry Lippman (drums/percussion/vocals), Diane Marketta (harmonica/percussion/vocals), Paul O’Dell (bass), Rob Sammarco (guitars/vocals) and arranger Adam Seely (saxophones/keyboards/vocals).

To complete the 2013 summer concert season at Calf Pasture Beach there will be a Classic Car Show on September 4 beginning at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m. Sixology will perform classic rock from the 60s, 70s and 80s, this band features Steve Boccuzzi (guitar), Vinnie Deflorio (drums), Marc Fabrizio (guitar), Geof Skully (keyboards), Bobby Tirado (vocals) and Joe Valenzano (guitar).

The Facts
Each Wednesday night throughout the summer, area residents look forward to packing a picnic and a blanket and heading to the beach to enjoy a relaxing evening of music beside Long Island Sound. A $5.00 parking fee is charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker. For updates and additional information call the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Office at 203-854-7807. All concerts have a rain date of the following day. For cancellation information call 203-854-7938. A $20.00 parking fee is charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker.

JanetLeave a comment

Rare Book Sale at Pequot Library

library_in_spring

Exceedingly scarce rare books, known as “Specials” are what set the 53rd Annual Pequot Library Book Sale apart from other less-robust book sales. They are one reason Pequot Library’s Summer Book Sale is called, “The Best Book Sale in New England.” From Friday, July 26 – Tuesday, July 30, 2013, the public will have an opportunity to see and purchase collector’s items and first editions. Admission is free and all Sale proceeds benefit Pequot Library located on 720 Pequot Ave. in Southport. For additional information visit www.pequotlibrary.org or call 203-259-0346 ext. 15.

Pequot’s offerings of “specials” is consistently the finest, in all the book sales. This year, 2 rare signed books, inscribed by Jean-Paul Sartre, plus numerous signed works of US presidents and sports celebrities, and a reprint of the Bay Psalms (among the most valuable books in the world), will be for sale.

Bay Psalms Book is an exceedingly scarce early reprint (1862) of the first book printed in North America (in 1640). There were only 50 copies printed for subscribers. 12 of these copies are currently within institutions leaving 38 possibly remaining in private hands. The original copies are considered to be among the most valuable books in the world.

Other specials offerings include a number of rare signed books by Maurice Sendak, John Knowles, former US Presidents, George Bush and Jimmy Carter, baseball star, Hank Aaron, and WWl flying ace and American Aviator, Eddie Rickenbacker.

pequot_library_book_sale_1st_editions_2013_high_res

Five (out of dozens) of signed books include: Jimmy Carter, The Virtues of Aging; Hank Aaron, I had a Hammer; Sandra Day O’Connor, Chico (an illustrated children’s book); Farah Pahlavi, An Enduring Love: My life with the Shah; and Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are. Two (of many) interesting first editions are by John Steinbeck, Sweet Thursday; and Pierre Boulle, Planet of the Apes.

Two scarce books on poetry include: The Newark Anniversary Poems (1917). This was done nearly 100 years ago in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Newark (NJ). Apart from its local interest, this is notable for the inclusion of one poem by Ezra Pound. The Book of American Negro Poetry (1922), includes poems from many notable Black poets of the early 20th century.

Because of the long-time community support, Pequot’s sale, in its 53rd year, is the largest in the region with the most extensive selection books. Other valuable unsigned books for sale will include: a 1st printing/collector’s reprint edition (1966) of Tolkien’s, The Hobbit; a 1924 collection of 50 loose plates (Interieurs) featuring architectural drawings of interiors by seven French art deco designers/firms; 1892 edition of History of New Haven County — a very scarce first edition of this hefty (800+ pages) reference, plus numerous engravings/portraits with tissue paper. First editions including Planet of the Apes, and works by Dashiell Hammett, Robert Parker, John Steinbeck, along with many others are for sale.

Pequot Library’s 53rd Annual Summer Book Sale also has over 140,000 books, CD’s, DVD, records, videos.

HOURS AND PRICING
Friday, July 26: 9am to 8pm, DOUBLE the marked price
Saturday, July 27: 9am to 5:30pm, Priced as marked
Sunday, July 28: 9am to 5:30pm, Priced as marked
Monday, July 29: 9am to 6pm, HALF the marked price
Tuesday, July 30: 9am to 2pm, $5 PER BAG DAY!

Cash, check, and all major credit cards accepted.

Please visit www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this open-to-the-public small, unique, community library. For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Summer exhibits at Silvermine Arts Center

Kite - Charles Hinman and Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein
Kite – Charles Hinman and Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein

Silvermine Arts Center, located in New Canaan, CT will be kicking off its summer exhibitions with an exciting collaboration of works by Charles Hinman and Gary Lichtenstein, and new works by Guild Artist Christ Durante. Silvermine’s new Viewing Room features presentations of new works on paper by Guild Artists Roger Mudre and Robert Gregson. The exhibitions will open on Sunday, July 28th with a reception from 2pm-4pm, and will run through September 7th.

“Kites” features the latest collaborative silkscreens between three dimensional painting pioneer Charles Hinman and Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein. A working relationship which began in 2011 with their prints Gems, this latest body of work continues their exploration into translating the visual vocabulary of Hinman’s signature hard-edged shaped canvas into the realm of prints. By combining a mutual understanding of color and the use of subtle hand embossing, they have created a suite of prints that epitomizes the core of Hinman’s ideology: “Though the works at first glance appear serene and placid, they are ever changing as the surface of the ocean or the expanse of the sky. Ever dynamic, they are ever alive.”

A prime example of this idea can be seen in Kite 2. At first glance, the silkscreen faithfully reconstructs Hinman’s paintings down to the inclusion of subtle lines referencing the support system of his three dimensional work. As the viewer gazes at the work, the true complexity of its arrangement of space unfolds into an ever changing visual experience that expands upon Mr. Hinman’s longstanding commitment to visual perceptions of space.

In his new exhibit “No Mans Land,” Guild Artist Chris Durante has constructed an environment of what he calls “considered hanging,” where viewers can visually and physically traverse his works. An artist who is never satisfied with making work that neatly fits into prescribed categories, Durante continually explores and blurs the lines between mediums and artistic genres. Using a combination of paintings, drawings,graffiti, found objects and a collection of other materials, Durante creates a space that furthers his exploration of boundaries into a visual experience, creating a thought provoking space, a “place of freedom,” if you will, where viewers can explore ideas. About his work, Chris comments, “The inability to couple a thought with a sustained and focused action can be an asset if one can be patient and accept that condition as temporary. Let the mind wander and the hand fiddle. Attention is a slippery proposition. The unison of idea and craft will come, eventually.”

Drawing - Robert Gregson
Drawing – Robert Gregson

Silvermine’s new Viewing Room, will present works by Guild Artists Roger Mudre and Robert Gregson. A selection of new abstract silkscreens by Roger Mudre which were produced in collaboration with Master Printer Gary Lichtenstein and an installation of recently created optically fetching geometric drawings by Robert Gregson will be featured through the summer. For more information about the exhibitions and other upcoming events at Silvermine Arts Center call 203-966-9700 or visit our website at www.sivermineart.org.

About Silvermine Arts Center

Silvermine Arts Center located in New Canaan, Connecticut is one of the oldest artist communities in the United States. Located on a four acre campus, the center consists of a nationally renowned artist guild, award winning school of art offering multi-disciplinary art classes for all ages, an art and fine crafts shop and galleries, offering over twenty contemporary and historic exhibitions annually.

The center also provides innovative free and subsidized arts education in Norwalk and Stamford schools through its outreach program, Art Partners; and hosts a lecture series, performances, and special programs throughout the year. Silvermine Arts Center is a nonprofit organization.

Gallery Hours: Silvermine Galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday, 12p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1pm to 5 p.m. For more information, call (203) 966-9700 ext. 20 or visit the website: www.silvermineart.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

JanetLeave a comment