Tag: Litchfield Hills

It’s a Small, Small World: Dollhouses and Miniatures Gunn Memorial Museum

The Gunn Museum’s holiday exhibition, It’s a Small, Small World: Dollhouses and Miniatures, is on display through January 20. This holiday season, visitors will enter a fantasy world of miniature houses, furnishings, toys, and dolls, loved and played with by generations of children.

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Under the guidance of artistic director Chris Zaima, designer Sandy Booth and John Pitts, the former scenic artist at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City, this whimsical exhibit captures the holiday spirit for children of all ages. The enchanting display features over fifty unique handcrafted dollhouses and roomboxes, spanning three centuries, from the Gunn Museum, Washington residents and private collectors across the Northeast.

A number of dollhouse treasures, discovered in local attics, basements and barns, are now seeing the light of day for the first time in decades in this exhibit. The oldest item on display is a very rare George II English Baby House built in 1747. Some other notable artifacts in the exhibit are 1890s Moritz Gottschalk dollhouses, elaborate 19th century German “room boxes”, a 1920s Tynietoy dollhouse with original Tynietoy furnishings, an early 20th century British Tri-ang dollhouse, a Mt. Vernon dollhouse built in 1932 for the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth, Louis Marx tin houses, among many others. Also included in this exhibit is the work of local dollhouse craftsmen and miniature artisans Rick Maccione of Dollhouse Mansions, Susan Anthony Klein, and Teresa Layman.

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Bring your holiday guests to this must-see exhibit. The Gunn Museum is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are always appreciated. The Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, the intersection of Rt. 47 and Wykeham Road, in Washington, CT. For more information call 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org

For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

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Sultans of String Perform at Infinity Hall Dec. 20

Fiery world-jazz string super-group, Sultans of String, whose new revved up CD, MOVE, just garnered the group the prestigious CFMA World Group of the Year, returns to headline Infinity Hall December 20th, after their wildly successful debut opening there for Livingston Taylor!

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The band’s 3rd CD can only be thought of as a perfect hat-trick, presenting, once again, an exhilarating celebration of world music styles. “North America is a real meeting place of musical influences from around the world” says bandleader/violinist Chris McKhool. “At the same time, as a band we try to tell uniquely North American stories, putting forth our vision of the world as one family.”

From the east coast’s Sable Island with its breathtaking wild horses, to the west coast calls of Luna the Whale, or from the silk road through Spain & the Middle East to the Gypsy-jazz cafés of Eastern Europe, Sultans of String take audiences on a spell-binding sonic journey.

Seamlessly traversing diverse themes of heart, place and tradition, fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funk bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.

Since their formation only 5 years ago, Sultans of String have been riding a wave of success, from their debut CD, “Luna”, and 2nd offering, “Yalla Yalla!”, both hitting # 1 on world/international music charts in Canada, to “Yalla Yalla’s!” triple CFMA nomination, winning Instrumental Group of the Year in 2009.

In the past 2 years alone, they’ve acquired a JUNO nomination, 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition, placed as finalists for two 2011 International Independent Music Awards and won this year’s Festivals & Events Ontario-Entertainer of The Year Award and the CFMA’s World Group of the Year.

The latest good news is that The Chieftains have invited the Sultans to open for them this coming spring in Connecticut—exciting times for this hardworking indie band!
For more information about this band visit http://www.sultansofstring.com. For ticket information visit http://www.infinityhall.com. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

About Infinity Hall

Located in beautiful Norfolk Connecticut,on Rte. 44 Infinity Hall was built in 1883 and offers an intimate venue for music, dining and entertainment. Newly renovated, the historic building features its original proscenium stage and wood, as well as many other notable details.

The music hall seats 300, ensuring each and every seat provides front row entertainment. The hall hosts more than 200 music and entertainment shows by quality national and regional artists annually. Infinity Bistro, the music-themed restaurant and bar, serves gourmet delights and spirits.

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Holiday Fun Naturally at White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation is the largest nature sanctuary in the state located on 80 White Hall Road in Litchfield. To get in a holiday mood, the foundation is having an open house on December 14 where guests are invited to stroll through the Museum, sipping mulled cider and shopping for their last minute holiday gifts. Participants can take 10% off all purchases! This one Night only Open House Special: Buy a Membership for Yourself or a Loved One and Receive a WMCC Tote! (New members only). The event takes place from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

On December 15 at 6:00 p.m. White Memorial is hosting a very special event, “Comfort and Joy” Ilvi Dulac’s Readers Theater presents: A Christmas Carol featuring local thespian Ilvi Dulac. This year the Reader’s Theater brings glad tidings in the form of excerpts from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Sit back and listen to her dulcet tones breathing life into the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim! Enjoy a light dinner, some mulled cider, and exit into the chilly evening overflowing with the warmth of the holiday season! Members: $20.00 Non-members: $30.00. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

Fabulous diorama at White Memorial Foundation
Fabulous
diorama at White Memorial Foundation

Winding up the month of December, White Memorial Foundation is showing a documentary film on Christmas in Yellowstone on December 29 at 2:00 p.m. This film, from the PBS series, Nature, take a breathtaking look at wintertime deep within America’s first national park. Stretching across more than 2.2 million acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho is one of the greatest expanses of unspoiled nature and wildlife anywhere on Earth — Yellowstone National Park. Designated America’s first national park in1872, Yellowstone now receives almost three million visitors each year. Yet only a small fraction of those who glimpse the park’s stunning vistas, geological wonders, and animal residents do so during the winter months, a time when nature’s inhospitality is matched only by its serenity.

For more information visit:http://www.whitememorialcc.org and for area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Holiday in Washington Depot Dec. 14

Washington Parks & Recreation and the Washington Business Association is hosting an evening of fun and good cheer in this bucolic village in the heart of the Litchifeld Hills.

There will be food, music, raffles, and hay rides throughout the town. The evening will begin at 6:00pm with the lighting of the tree by a very special guest. Outside the town hall after the tree has been lit, children from Washington Montessori School will be singing Christmas carols . Shortly after the tree lighting, Santa will arrive by way of hay wagon and listen to children’s wishes in the town hall until 8:30 p.m. Pictures will be taken with one photo per child provided.

The Troubadours from the Gunnery School will be caroling throughout the Depot during the evening. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be visiting businesses to offer holiday paw shakes to his fans. Inside the Town Hall, The Ladies Auxiliary of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department will have a special mailbox for letters to Santa, and will be selling their annual Christmas Ornament.

The Gunn Memorial Library and Gunn Museum will have a craft project for the children while they patiently wait for their turn with Santa. Washington Primary School PTO will be selling baked goods outside the Town Hall from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

The Senior Center will be selling gift items and raffling off a wreath and poinsettia donated by Painter Ridge Farm. The Washington Business Association will be sponsoring a drawing for a Mini I Pad and a gift basket of goodies. Tickets for the drawing will be available at member businesses from 6-8 and should be dropped off at Washington Supply for the drawing at 8:30.


The Hickory Stick Bookshop will be hosting a book signing from 7- 8 with Florence and Wendell Minor featuring My Bookstore for which they wrote an essay on the shop. Mo the Magician will be showing his tricks at Washington Supply and Outdoor Living from 6:30-8;30.

Other activities will be featured throughout the Depot to delight visitors to open businesses. Whether you stroll the streets of the Depot or ride on the hay wagon you’ll find a warm welcome inside the beautifully decorated shops which have kept their doors open welcoming friends with refreshments and other surprises. It is an evening not to be missed in Litchfield Hills.

JanetLeave a comment

A Taste of Litchfield Hills Aug. 25 – 27

From comfort food to gourmet dishes and live entertainment to an outdoor shopping bazaar, the 27th annual Taste of The Litchfield Hills will offer a menu of fine fare and fun at a new location.

New England’s oldest food and wine festival will be held Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 25-26, 2012, at its new location, Harwinton Fairgrounds, 150 Locust Road, Harwinton, Conn.

Since 1985, the festival has annually attracted thousands of guests for a sampling of the region’s food and wine, plus upscale shopping and live entertainment.

This year’s menu will feature such dishes as BBQ pulled pork, braised short ribs, chicken and black bean chili, fresh prosciutto Panini, lamb shawama pita wrap, lobster hush puppies, lobster mac and cheese, grilled pizza, New England clam chowder, seared sea scallops, sesame chicken and many other items. Sweet offerings will include apple cider cinnamon donuts, banana & toffee pie, fruit smoothies, old fashioned kettle corn, white chocolate apricot squares and many other delicious desserts. The 2012 Menu is available for download at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com.

Foodies will enjoy “grazing-sized” portions of house specialties prepared by chefs from regional restaurants, bistros and other purveyors of fine food with prices ranging from $4.00 to $8.00 per item. Table seating will be available in the festival’s Culinary Tent and outdoor picnic pavilions. Plus, guests are invited to picnic on the grounds with their own lawn chairs and blankets.

Participating culinary vendors will include @ The Corner (Litchfield), Backstage Restaurant (Torrington), Faddy’s Donuts & Ice Cream (Bloomfield), The Green Room Café (Winsted), Indochine Pavilion (New Haven), Infinity Bistro (Norfolk), Jake’s Wayback Burgers (Torrington), Kelly’s Kitchen (Winsted), KJ’ Grilled Pizza (Torrington), La Cupola Ristorante & Inn (Litchfield) and Noujaim’s Specialty Foods (Torrington).

An assortment of imported Italian wines from Don Tomasi Winery will be available for purchase by the glass. Samuel Adams Boston Lager beer, plus a variety of soft drinks also will be available for purchase.

Live entertainment will include country singer-songwriter Courtney Drummey (Saturday, 12-3 p.m.), jazz recording artists The Christine Spero Group (Saturday, 4-7 p.m.) and blues artists The Andy James Band (Sunday, 1-4 p.m.).

Guests will also enjoy an upscale shopping experience in the festivals outdoor bazaar featuring such unique gift items as artisan-crafted jewelry, gourmet food products, kitchenware and other products and services.

Hours for A Taste of the Litchfield Hills will be 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012.

Ticket prices are Adult (age 12-64): $10 On-Site or $8 Advance Purchase; Senior (age 65+): $8 On-Site or $6 Advance Purchase; and Child (Under 12): Free admission. Advance tickets and more information are available at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com. Admission does not include food and beverage, which are purchased separately.

Harwinton Fairgrounds is located off Route 4 on Locust Road in Harwinton, Conn., just a few minutes from the intersection of Routes 8 & 118 and is an easy day-trip from Albany, The Berkshires, Hartford, The Hudson Valley, Metro New York, New Haven and Springfield.

With its antique shops, art galleries, covered bridges and quaint villages, the Litchfield Hills is an ideal vacation destination for the three-day holiday weekend. Lodging options include dozens of bed and breakfasts, country inns, resorts, hotels and motels. Tourism information is available from the Western Conn. Convention & Visitors Bureau at 860-567-4506 or www.LitchfieldHills.com.

About A Taste of The Litchfield Hills

Since 1985, A Taste of The Litchfield Hills has annually attracted thousands of guests for a sampling of the region’s food and locally-produced wine, plus live entertainment and upscale shopping. More Info: http://www.LitchfieldFestivals.com

JanetLeave a comment

Sharon Audubon Festival August 11th and 12th

Wendy with Sophia

The 45th annual Sharon Audubon Festival will be taking place at the Sharon Audubon Center, located on Route 4 in Sharon, CT on Saturday and Sunday, August 11th and 12th. The Audubon Festival is an event where people of all ages can learn about nature in a fun and interactive way, and features two full days of nature walks and programs, live animal presentations, children’s activities, food, music, exhibits, vendors and more. Whether one is a seasoned naturalist or a young explorer, there are activities for all ages and experience levels.

Erin with a Red Hawk

Two keynote presentations will also take place each day. At 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm on Saturday, Talons will engage visitors with a falconry demonstration. These amazing birds of prey will also be on display throughout the day on Saturday. A live animal show presnted by Rainforest Reptiles known for their dynamic educational programs will take place at 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. The festivities will close on Sunday with Flight of the Raptor, another exciting falconry demonstration back by popular demand.

Scheduled programs take place at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 and 2:15 each day. Examples of programs include Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe, Porcupines, Tree Identification Walk, Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees, Bird Banding, Orienteering, Reptiles, Bears, Pressed Flower Bookmarks and much more. Ongoing activities such as a live animal exhibits from the Beardsley Zoo and Wonders on Wheels and the children’s Merry Marsh Activity Tent, as well as various vendors, will be on hand throughout each day. Food is also available for purchase.

Gates are open from 9:30am-5: 30pm each day. No pets are allowed inside the gates. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. A complete schedule and description of programs can be found at www.sharon.audubon.org or by calling 860-364-0520 for more information.

JanetLeave a comment