Tag: news

Civil Rights Programs at Litchfield and Torrington Historical Society’s

The Litchfield and Torrington Historical Society’s have teamed up to present two civil rights programs based on the Created Equal Film Series and will be presented on February 20 and March 20th. These documentaries with riveting new footage illustrate the history of civil rights in America. Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that uses the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion of America’s civil rights history.

loving story

On February 20, (snow date Thursday, Feb. 27) at the Torrington Historical Society located on 192 Main Street in the heart of Torrington will host Tom Hogan who will discuss the film, The Loving Story, which examines the groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court decision on interracial marriages. Tom Hogan, former lawyer and legal history professor at UConn, we will take a look at a groundbreaking case that dealt with the legality of interracial marriages. The documentary brings to life the Lovings’ marriage and the legal battle that followed through little-known filmed interviews and photographs shot for Life magazine. Participants will view film clips from the HBO documentary as well as supplemental materials provided by Mr. Hogan.

The second event in this civil rights series takes place on March 20 (snow date March 27) at the Litchfield Historical Society located on 7 South Street in Litchfield with the film, Freedom Riders. Litchfield blogger and history professor Pete Vermilyea brings to light the activities of the freedom riders in the last of our film series. Freedom Riders tells the terrifying, moving, and suspenseful story of a time when white and black volunteers riding a bus into the Deep South risked being jailed, beaten, or killed, as white local and state authorities ignored or encouraged violent attacks. The film includes previously unseen amateur 8-mm footage of the burning bus on which some Freedom Riders were temporarily trapped, taken by a local twelve-year-old and held as evidence since 1961 by the FBI.

All program are free and open to the public. To register for any of these programs please call the Litchfield Historical Society at 860-567-4501 or email registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org. For more information visit http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/tours/createdequal.php

For information on the Litchfield Hills on where to stay, dine and shop www.litchfieldhills.com

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Ski Mohawk Mountain in CT Presidents Day Week Deals

The skiing is terrific at Mohawk Mountain Ski Area located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills in Cornwall Connecticut. The lifts are running and 24 slopes are open and covered with over 14 inches of fresh new white powder on top of an amazing base making this year a perfect time to go skiing.

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Mohawk has big plans for Presidents week holiday, starting on Saturday, Feb. 15 and running through Sunday, Feb. 23, the ski lifts will start turning at 8:30 a.m. For you early birds, the lodge will be open at 7:30 a.m. for your convenience.

If you are renting skis, it is easy to convert your single day rental to a multi-day rental, which will save you time and money. Multi-day rentals are simply daily rentals that you keep for the length of your visit. You are required to take your equipment home with you which saves you time picking them up the next day when you want to hit the slopes again. Best of all if you rent skis for three days, you get a 10% discount on all three days, rent them for 5 days and get 15% off.

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Mohawk’s Snowsports Discovery Center is offering ski and snowboard lessons for kids from 5-12 every day at 10 am for first timers and 1 pm for all levels of skiers. All levels of snowboarders are welcome at either session. This program has an excellent teacher -student ratio and is never overbooked making it a popular and worthwhile program. To reserve a spot call 860-672-6100 x 133 or email snowsports@mohawkmtn.com.

Mohawk Mountain Ski Area is located on 46 Great Hollow Road Cornwall Connecticut for information www.mohawkmtn.com For information about the Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

This years schedule for President’s week holiday at Mohawk is:

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014
• Midweek prices, open 9:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 11 am to 7 pm
• Triple Espresso open 3 to 9 pm
• Learn to ski or board with a sweetheart deal! Our SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL is available on this Valentine’s Friday night! Lift/lesson/rental package for only $45.00 per person. It’s everything you need to get out on the snow – ski or snowboard options available. Lesson offered at 6:30 pm. No pre-registration required! Forget about love – ski or board with the one you’re with!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 7 pm
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 6 pm
• No Yeti Club or Mountain Division program
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 3:30 pm
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 3:30 pm
• No Yeti Club or Mountain Division program
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 6 pm/ Triple Espresso open 9-6 pm
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 6 pm/ Triple Espresso open 9 am – 6 pm
• PAY A VISIT TO THE LL BEAN BOOTMOBILE! The bootmobile will be parked near the Main Lodge from 11 am to 2 pm! Come say hi to our friends from LL Bean, take some great photos, play games and win great prizes! It’s a very cool vehicle, and gets a ton of SMILES per GALLON!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE closed for private function
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 6 pm
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE closed
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 6 pm
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 11 am to 7 pm
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 6 pm
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
• OLYMPIC TORCH RUN! Show your pride in Team USA and join us in an Olympic style Torch Run down Arrowhead at dusk. We’ll gather at the top of Arrowhead as soon as darkness falls, extinguish the trail lights, and ski or ride down in formation. Each person will carry a foam light-up tube that they can take home. We will have an option for joining the parade near the top of the Nutmeg chair for those skiers and boarders that have not yet mastered blue trails. Limited to first 600 participants. Registration required/participant must be wearing a lift ticket or season pass/ no additional fees. Click here to register.
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 7 pm
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 6 pm
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
• Holiday prices, open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
• PINE LODGE open 9 am to 3:30 pm
• Triple Espresso open 9 am to 3:30 pm

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Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball February 22

Calling all little princes and princesses! Stepping Stones is rolling out the red carpet as the museum transforms into a snow-kissed wonderland for its sixth annual Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball on Saturday, February 22 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm.

Winter wonderland ball. Photo credit: Thomas McGovern
Winter wonderland ball. Photo credit: Thomas McGovern

Children are invited to dress up in their party best for a memorable evening of fun and entertainment. Moms and Dads, sons and daughters will be treated like the princes and princesses that they are as they enjoy a magical wintry celebration featuring dancing and full access to all the exhibits in the museum. Families will enjoy posing for the paparazzi as they arrive, learning ballroom moves from the experts and making wonderful winter crafts.

Winter Ball Photo credit Thomas McGovern
Winter Ball Photo credit Thomas McGovern

Be sure you bring your camera. Photo opportunities abound as we celebrate the magic and wonder of the season amidst a whimsical winter backdrop of a lighted courtyard, a play-sized igloo, a life-sized snow globe, spectacular winter murals, snowflake-adorned galleries and a myriad of snow people. Bring your appetite as well. The Stepping Stones Cafe will be open for purchases of their healthy fare.

Photo Miguel Cruz
Photo Miguel Cruz

Tickets for this unforgettable evening for the whole family cost $10 per person for museum members and $15 per person for non-members. Children under the age of one will be admitted for free. Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Registration is required. Space is limited, so register early. Call 203 899 0606, ext. 264 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/wonderland. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

About Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Conn., is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501(c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Located on five acres in Mathews Park, the LEED Gold certified museum encompasses five hands-on galleries, state-of-the-art Multimedia Gallery, Family and Teacher Resource Center, cafe and retail store. Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, exit 14N or 15S off I-95 in Norwalk. Museum hours are Monday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children. Children under 1 are free. To learn more, call 203 899 0606 or visit http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

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Oysters, Pearls of Long Island Sound at the Bruce Museum

Found in estuaries around the world, oysters play a significant role in ecosystems and economies. These bivalve mollusks have sustained Native Americans and created waterside cultures. The Long Island Sound’s native oyster, the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), is a keystone species in the local environment, providing critical habitat and food for many other species, recycling nutrients, cleaning the water as it feeds, and driving an industry. Its value lies in these worthy attributes rather than in its potential for jewels. Like other true oysters, the Eastern oyster rarely produces a pearl. If it does make one, the pearl lacks the lustrous quality of those produced by pearl oysters, which are in a different family.

Eastern Oyster Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica Bruce Museum Collection Photo by Paul Mutino
Eastern Oyster
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
Bruce Museum Collection Photo by Paul Mutino

The Bruce Museum celebrates the Eastern oyster in the exhibition Oysters, Pearls of Long Island Sound, running through March 23, 2014.

The exhibition will explore the science and history of the Eastern oyster in Long Island Sound, examining how its nutritional and commercial values have made the Eastern oyster a popular commodity for residents along the Sound for eons.

Hassam_Sloop Childe Hassam (American, 1859 – 1935) Oyster Sloop, Cos Cob, 1902 Oil on canvas National Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.100
Hassam_Sloop
Childe Hassam (American, 1859 – 1935) Oyster Sloop, Cos Cob, 1902
Oil on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.100

Native Americans harvested oysters from mile-long natural beds and collected individual oysters that were up to a foot long. By the early 1800s, the natural beds had become depleted and oysters were cultivated on artificial beds.

The oyster industry was a powerful force in the local economy by the end of the 19th century. However, overfishing, pollution, natural disasters, and disease brought about a decline and the industry was seriously threatened through the early to mid-20th century.

In recent years, the oyster trade has experienced resurgence as a result of improved aquaculture techniques and oysters’ popularity among food connoisseurs who enjoy their distinctive flavor, which varies with each local environment.

Organized with the assistance of scientists and historians and developed in cooperation with the Town of Greenwich Shellfish Commission, Oysters, Pearls of Long Island Sound features hands-on, interactive displays, videos, specimens of bivalves from around the world, and historical objects that appeal to all ages. Objects from the Bruce Museum collection are supplemented by loans of shells, oystering tools, food-related items, and boat models from local collectors including oysterman Norm Bloom and institutions such as the Yale Peabody Museum, Rowayton Historical Society, National Gallery of Art, Grand Central Oyster Bar, and Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Milford Laboratory.

Complementing the exhibition will be a science lecture series in the fall and a history lecture series in the winter in addition to a variety of programs suitable for all ages.

About the Bruce Museum

Explore Art and Science at the Bruce Museum, located at One Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm; closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students up to 22 years, $6 for seniors and free for members and children under 5 years. Individual admission is free on Tuesday. Free on-site parking is available and the Museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities. For additional information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376 or visit the website at www.brucemuseum.org. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

JanetLeave a comment

Celebrate 375 Years in Fairfield at the Museum and History Center

This year, Fairfield Connecticut is celebrating 375 years of culture and history. The Fairfield Museum and History Center has put together a special exhibit to celebrate Fairfield’s musical heritage. This exhibition will take place through April 28, 2014.

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This exhibition features the top ten performers in the region who were active 25 years ago or more. Musician and music historian Chris Frantz, drummer for the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, is the guest curator. The exhibit opened with the Museum After Dark series and a roundtable discussion with some of Fairfield’s most talented performers, hosted by Chris Frantz. Explore the history of this region’s rich musical heritage through lectures, performances, and a film series presented with local community partner Fairfield Theatre Company.

Fairfield’s Rockin’ Top Ten celebrates 10 musicians who have helped create our community’s musical legacy. The exhibition will feature rare photographs, music videos and iconic artifacts from a diverse list of artists, including: Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, The Remains, Leonard Bernstein, David Brubeck, Jose Feliciano, Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth, Richard Rodgers, Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards, Keith Richards and Donna Summer.

On January 29, the Fairfield Theatre Company and the Fairfield Museum and History Center present Chris and Tina’s all Stars, a concert and wine tasting celebration that will be held at the museum starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $95 per person, available online http://fairfieldtheatre.org/shows/chris-and-tinas-all-stars
Hosted by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth and featuring performances by Caravan of Thieves, Mystic Bowie and The Zambonis.

On February 23, at 2:30 p.m. there is an adult lecture called Home of the Happy Dancers: The Story of Bridgeport’s Ritz Ballroom with author Jeffrey Williams. This lecture will focus on the roaring twenties to the rockin’ sixties, when the Ritz was one of New England’s foremost dance palaces and offered a respite for people who danced their cares away. The cost of the lecture is $5 for non-members and members free.

The Fairfield Museum is located on 370 Beach Street in Fairfield. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For additional information www.fairfieldhistory.org. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

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Learn the Most Embarrassing Things about George Washington Through Improv

On a one dollar bill, George Washington may appear to be an imposing figure, but did you know that he, too, was embarrassing sometimes? Join the Litchfield Historical Society in welcoming Christina Frei on Wednesday, January 8 at 3:00 pm as we explore the Top 10 Most Embarrassing Things about George Washington!

georgewashington

No need to sit in front of a screen on this half-day—using games, magic, and comedy improvisation, participants will learn all about our first president. Through this funny and interactive program, your kids will learn all sorts of new and embarrassing historical facts to share at the dinner table. No stage experience is necessary!

Christina Frei is a motivational youth speaker and performer from Connecticut. She uses stories about the Founding Fathers and their “Revolutionary thinking” to turn children into confident leaders. A master at storytelling, Frei has also written a book, 5 Rockstars of the American Revolution: Surprising Stories and Big Life Lessons of the Founding Fathers. She has been featured on the History Channel, the Today Show, and NBC News.

This event is open to kids ages 9 and up, and is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Registration is required—please register by Monday, January 6 for this event by calling (860) 567-4501 or emailing registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT. For more information about this or other programs, please call (860) 567-4501 or see www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

JanetLeave a comment