Ink Magazine - March 2017

March 2017 A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

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Vol 13 Issue 135 2017

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Features

MARCH 2017

Columns, Reviews, Events

ISSUE CONTENTS

A Brothers Guide A Sense of Community

Stubborn Beauty Brewery - Middletown

Everyone comes together at The Public House

The Cheesemonger

pg. 12

March Events

The 12 Families of Cheese – Part II Upcoming events in Connecticut

pg. 8 pg. 74 pg. 76

The Heart of the Home: Kitchen Living... A Good Fit!

pg. 24

The Newport Mansions: A Gilded Metropolis

pg. 36

The New England Carousel Museum

www.inkct.com

Catch a Painted Pony...

pg. 48

On the Cover: Newport Mansions, Isaac Bell inglenook detail - Photo by Gavin Ashworth Last month: Thank you to Photographers Edwina Stevenson (Champagne Corsets) and Christine Petit (Tina Ashmore Jewelry

INK staff

Weaving Old Traditions with New Friends: The World of Stephanie Morton

pg. 58

Contributors:

Advertising:

Jeffery Lilly- founder/publisher/webmaster

Contact us to receive our media kit complete with detailed advertising information including ad rates, demographics, and distribution in your area.

Stephanie Sittnick - publisher/sales/design Carolyn Battisa - editorial Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography Charmagne Eckert - editorial Gina King - Design in Mind Sharma Piersall Howard - editorial Nancy LaMar-Rodgers - editorial Barbara Malinsky - editorial

CUBA Person-2-Person

Please direct your advertising inquiries and questions to: Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Advertising advertising@ink-pub.com 860-227-8199 Cheryl Powell - Greater Connecticut cheryl@ink-pub.com 860-608-5749 Rona Mann - Clinton, CT - Rhode Island six07co@att.net 401-539-7762

Rona Mann - editorial

Submit Events Listings to:

Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger

Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

A. Vincent Scarano - photography

pg. 66 Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

We encourage the public to submit stories, poems, photography, essays, and all things creative. If you know of a person or place of interest, please submit your ideas to: submissions@ink-pub.com We will do our best to put your ideas in INK.

All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by INK Publishing, LLC. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Ink Publishing, LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

INK PUBLISHING, LLC 107 Hemlock Valley Rd., East Haddam, CT email: info@ink-pub.com www.inkct.com

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VALEN T I N E H . Z AH N C O M M U N I T Y

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MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA CREATED BY DAVID

GRAPES AND TODD OLSON

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Photos and review by Tyler Plourd

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Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company in Middletown, CT is Connecticut’s most daring brewery. Committed to brewing one of a kind, full flavored beers, Stubborn has accumulated a reputation for brewing outside the lines. With a Brown Ale toeing into the 10% ABV range, an array of IPA’s with palate scorching hop profiles, and a Belgian Golden Strong that flaunts its fruit character notes all the while concealing its heavyweight alcohol content, there’s a courageous offering for everyone. If you’re looking for a brewery with knockouts from top to bottom, Stubborn Beauty is your next destination.

clocking in at 10% ABV without you even noticing, the Conqueror sits atop the Brown Ale throne with authority.

Secret Agent x9 is Stubborn Beauty’s gateway beer. Perhaps you’re with a few friends that are new to craft beer or you’ve found yourself amongst a group of wine lovers, Secret Agent x9 knows how to please a crowd. Simply put, there’s something for everyone in this beer. The Belgian Golden Strong is big on Belgian yeast

Located on Johnson Street which is just off Main Street, Stubborn Beauty operates out of a quaint space that allows you to see right into the guts of the brewhouse.

Stainless steel wizardry and other vessels line the back half of the taproom, while the other half contains tables, standing space, and window railings that are perfect for setting down a flight.

Nummy Nummy, a Double IPA that oozes with orange pith aroma is perhaps Stubborn Beauty’s most popular beer. If you bring up Nummy around CT beer fanatics, chances are their eyes widen, mouths water, and withdrawal symptoms begin to show, at least that’s how my brother and I react. Rather than coaxing you in, Nummy decides to grab you by the arm and drag you into a world where hop flavors know no bounds. However, despite all its brawn, Nummy’s drinkability is what really sets it apart from its competitors.

Massive grapefruit notes on the palate create a fury of citrus while bold hop bitterness is stifled by a razor-sharp finish, Nummy Nummy is exactly that.

The beers that adorn those flights are what I’m most interested in telling you about, so let’s get to it.

Too Many Fiestas for Reuben is a Session IPA that’s slightly tart but connects big with notes of mango and tropical fruit. Session IPA’s by definition are IPA’s with a lower alcohol content, typically under 5% ABV. Reuben is able to harness all the major flavors that comes with a standard IPA and package them into a 5% ABV body, which can keep the fiesta going all night long.

The Conqueror is perhaps the most audacious beer on the taplist.

Brown Ales tend to be a reserved, typical, and just plain boring. Conqueror flips all of these preconceived notions upside down. Jam packed with aromatic notes of chocolate and coffee, the Conqueror drinks easy but possesses a body and mouthfeel that might be impossible to match in the state of Connecticut. Rich, full, and

Of course, if you’re looking for a mouthful of hops, Stubborn has some of the best IPA’s and Double IPA’s around. Happy Treez is an American IPA brewed with three different hop varieties to create a tropical explosion of mango, grapefruit, and tangerine. Treez pours a hazy orange color with the aforementioned fruit aromas bursting from the glass. This IPA is delicious and continues to beg for another sip every time that glass touches your lips. With a simple malt bill laying the groundwork for the hops, Happy Treez delivers that juicy flavor that hopheads crave.

flavors such as; apple, pear, and banana, while a dry finish and touch of spice round the whole beer out perfectly. It’s not a mouthful of hops which most beginners aren’t ready for, nor does it overwhelm your palate with a mess of flavors.

It’s clean, authentic, and amazingly smooth down to the last sip.

Middletown is making huge strides when it comes to grabbing some food and a great craft beer to go with it. Main Street is speckled with terrific watering holes and restaurants for every occasion from a quick slice, to casual dining.

Now if you find yourself at one of these bars on Main, or anywhere for that matter, make sure you look out for the rose shaped tap handle, and get yourself a pint of Stubborn Beauty.

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A Sense of Community Everyone comes together at The Public House

by RONA MANN / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

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tradesmen could congregate with farmers, the hardworking laborer bending his elbow in the company of wealthier patrons.

Originally purposebuilt to accommodate weary travelers needing a bit of respite from their journey, next came the “inn,” followed quickly thereafter by the “tavern,” which offered wine. Since wine came at a higher price than beer or ale, taverns catered more to a wealthier demographic.

In mid-18th century the term “public house” surfaced; and although the moniker is more widely found in the pubs that dot most corners of the United Kingdom, it is still synonymous with a place where townspeople congregate to enjoy a pint, a glass of wine, spirits, and something warm and satisfying to accompany it.

Even more, it encourages and fosters the sense of community - of sharing drink, food, and conversation with others. It represents a kind of safe house where both the blue collar worker and the white collar executive can belly up to the bar, share conversation, and cheer or jeer the televised game, all while sharing a plate with friends and neighbors.

n medieval times, it was a place to come for home-brewed ale and beer and perhaps to bed down on the floor of the adjacent barn. It was called an “alehouse.”

Whether alehouse, inn, or tavern, when they hung out their shingle, people flocked to these places not just for rest and sustenance, but for the sense of community they provided. Here

That’s the spirit and essence of a true public house and exactly what Kaitlin Baker-Hewes and her father-in-law, experienced restaurateur,

John Hewes set out to do when they opened The Public House in Old Lyme two years ago.

Already enjoying their other wildly successful collaboration, The Mystic Boathouse – a popular community meeting place - the partners had been looking around for another property.

When they came upon vacant space in the Old Lyme Marketplace that previously housed a

Facing page, left to right: Mgr., Matt Baker; Executive Chef, Justin Garcia; Managing Partner, Kaitlin Baker; Sous Chef, Evan Kennedy

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The Hewes managing partners have a small dining room that comfortably seats 30, with another small room, ideal for 12 people. In keeping with the décor, it has a large wooden picnic-style table, some benches, a few chairs, and a wide variety of board games for those who like to play. The walls are festooned with old black and white photos illustrating the beer making process.

What a perfect spot to reserve for girls night out, an intimate birthday celebration, or just a bunch of guys hanging out. small restaurant and bookstore, they felt it was the perfect size; and they knew precisely what they would do with it.

After ten long months of careful renovation, The Public House opened its doors, and folks have been congregating ever since. “The community just welcomed us with open arms,” Kaitlin offered, “and they continue to come.

The centerpiece of any public house is the bar area, and Old Lyme’s Public House has done it and done it right. The bar, commandeered

by Matt Baker, General Manager and head bartender, is a series of custom crafted wood built-ins which showcases an enormous variety of spirits, bitters, and beers. “We have about 60 beers by the bottle and another 12 or so on tap at any one time,” Kaitlin says. “And our

beers are always changing. This St. Patrick’s Day in addition to our large selection of Irish whiskeys, we’ll have a number of Irish beers on tap, but not the typical. Of course we’ll have Guinness...we always have that.”

A big part of any good public house is satisfying food, and here The Public House shines. “Our chef, Justin Garcia, is a Johnson and Wales graduate and serves as Executive Chef at both The Public House and The Mystic Boathouse.

Along with sous chef, Evan Kennedy, they bring creative and unique touches to all their

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dishes.” Just a glance at the menu confirms Kaitlin’s comments. Yes, they have nibbles, but offerings like housemade cool ranch chips, spicy chickpeas, and bacon cheddar biscuits are not the usual pub fare. A variety of small plates which Baker-Hewes suggests should be ordered by those in a group and shared, include calamari with lentil dredge, pepitas and pesto, gorgonzola fries with truffle oil, and a beer cheese dip accompanied by pickled jalapenos and tomatillos. “You’ll see people eating off each other’s plates, sampling everything we have.”

housecut fries, sides of beer cheese, chimichurri, and a variety of housemade sauces.

The Public House in Old Lyme is authentic.

The dining room boasts all reclaimed wood that came from a barn in Maine. The BakerHewes family created their own design to capture the feel of that old-fashioned meetinghouse. Whiskey glass candles adorn the tables...and no matter what kind of a day you’ve had, The Public House will welcome you in. It’s the heartbeat of this town where friends and neighbors and strangers all come together for good food, good spirits, and a good time.

There are salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, tacos with inventive twists, and always daily specials. When you see offerings such as bay scallop fritters and fried shrimp with corn tortilla dredge and Thai chili sauce, you’ll know why they deserve the title of “Specials.”

For the heartier appetite, The Public House pleases with everything from Grandma’s Chicken, to Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin, to Bouillabaisse, and more. “We change our menu every two to four months,” BakerHewes says, “but certain popular items never change because our customers love them.”

Chief among them is the very popular Steak Board...a sliced 10 oz. hanger steak with

Tuesdays it’s half off all bottles and glasses of wine, Wednesday is Teacher Night with Happy Hour all night long, and Thursdays are Music and Martinis Days with live music and $5. martinis from 6-9PM.”

Alehouse, inn, tavern...no matter what they called it back then, now the place that provides a warm welcome for all is called The Public House.

Like most public houses, there is something going on every day. Kaitlin highlights the daily Happy Hour, every Monday through Friday where every appetizer is 50% off and there are always drink specials. “Monday we have trivia,

The Public House is tucked away in the Old Lyme Marketplace at 90 Halls Road. www.thepublichousect.com (860) 390-6181

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Matthew and Casandra Modglin, Owners Photo by Stephanie Sittnick

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The Heart of the Home: Kitchen Living... A Good Fit!

by RONA MANN

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sk anyone. Whether their home is a modest one, or a mansion boasting endless square footage, when people come to visit, they always wind up in the kitchen.

It’s no fluke; for the kitchen is, and always has been, a place of congregation. It’s a place of warmth and activity. It’s both familial and familiar...and safe.

When you first come through the door of Kitchen Living at that wonderful complex of unique and eclectic establishments that comprise The Shops at Marlborough Barn, you’ll see a sign hanging prominently on the wall: “Home is where the heart is.

Love the heart of your home” That’s not just a nice quotation Matt and

Casandra Modglin hung on the wall of their business five years ago, it is their business. It’s more than a well lit space showing countertop and cabinet choices; it’s a testament to a life dedicated to the careful design and remodel of kitchens, all the while respecting the heart of customer’s homes.

Matt Modglin is the extraordinary talent behind Kitchen Living. Having spent 12 years designing kitchens, after much time invested doing millwork, designing and making cabinetry, he decided to open his own business solely dedicated to the highest quality standards to which he had always ascribed. Matt was joined in the venture by his wife, Casandra, who had no experience in millwork, but fully completed their package.

“I’ve been in accounting forever,” Casandra laughed. She therefore provides a sound business footing, a perfect complement to Matt’s exacting artistic skills.

The partnership works and works well. It’s a good fit this marriage of design and good solid business sense. It enables potential clients to establish a realistic budget and have Kitchen Living work within it. “But we don’t cut corners,” Casandra quickly reminds.

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charge. Spending upwards of two hours, Modglin listens more than he speaks. He wants to know your ideas and goals for your new kitchen; he’s not going to give you what HE wants, but what YOU want.

BEFORE

After a week or so, Matt returns with a whole host of new ideas and a detail laden proposal, right down to pricing, options, and design. At this point he also discusses any finishing touches you may wish, from doors to hardware and everything in between.

Modglin doesn’t rush your meetings, his design, or the remodeling process itself.

Once everything has been thoroughly explained and agreed upon, an installation schedule is established so you know in advance what to expect and how long it will take to begin enjoying your new kitchen. All design work is done with 20/20 Software, a computer aided design (CAD) program that affords Matt maximum accuracy and efficiency.

Casandra adds,“People know exactly what they’re getting before anything is ordered or installed.”

AFTER “If they’re looking for big box store prices, we’d just as soon have them go there. We don’t deal in particle board. We deal strictly in wood, and we don’t cut corners,” Matt adds.

Remodeling your kitchen with Kitchen Living is most definitely a process. You just don’t pick out your choice of cabinet and countertop and order. That’s the big box way; it’s not the

Modglins way. Because they want your kitchen to withstand the test of time and last way more than ten years, Kitchen Living follows a careful painstaking process to give you the result you want without breaking the bank.

First and foremost comes the consult with Matt. He’ll come to either home or office to meet with you, for which there’s never a

Matt puts a minimum of 10-15 hours into every design; and according to Casandra, “is very big on functionality. If the design isn’t right, he won’t do it.

He doesn’t care what colors you pick, he knows where things should go, and that’s most important to him.”

She continues, “Matt devised a kitchen for a professional chef and knew exactly where his utensils would go, so he designed the space for easy access to them.”

Although Kitchen Living deals strictly in cabinetry, countertops, and installation, the Modglins have expert, dependable service contractors to which they can refer clients for

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BEFORE

AFTER

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the process,” from first consultation, to proposal, design, installation, and ultimately to the final walk-through, making sure the homeowners are well informed, satisfied, and happy with their new kitchen.

The Modglins believe people should see what they’re getting, so they urge potential customers to spend some time with their website: www.kitchenlivingdesign.com Here you can watch videos before and after and see the magic Matt creates because millwork and design have always been his life and his work, not merely an add-on to other home services.

The popular home remodeling site, www.houzz.com boasts 28 five star reviews for Kitchen Living, so the Modglins have no need to blow their own horn..their customers continue to do it for them.

plumbing or electrical needs.

A visit to Kitchen Living’s showroom in Marlborough provides you with a vast array of cabinets from which to choose.

Again Casandra repeats, “We only sell all wood products; absolutely no particle board is used because it falls apart, and we like to stay green as much as possible.” Chief among cabinet

choices is Candlelight Cabinets, all-American made and very popular with the Modglins not only for its look, but its durability.

Countertops come in granite, wood, quartz, and concrete, all carefully chosen to complement the cabinetry and total design.

Your kitchen is the heartbeat of your home. It’s where you cook and where you share meals with your family. It’s where the kids throw down their backpacks when they rush through the door, and it’s the place where you open your mail and curse the bills. No matter how spacious your other rooms may be, when you entertain, doesn’t everyone always wind up in your kitchen? It’s where you share a cup of coffee with the neighbors or a good cry with an old friend...a place of joys, sorrows, tantalizing aromas, and everlasting memories. Perhaps now it’s time to make it even more special with a quality remodel.

Perhaps it’s time to call Kitchen Living...they know the heart of the home, and they’re such a darn good fit.

Kitchen Living is located in The Shops at Marlborough Barn, 45 North Main Street in Marlborough

Above all Matt says, “Education is a big part of

www.kitchenlivingdesign.com (860) 819-5847

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Marble House Gold Room - Photo by Gavin Ashworth

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The Newport Mansions:

A Gilded Metropolis

By Barbara Malinsky

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he Mansions of Newport, Rhode Island are many things to many people. Most come to see the magnificent mansions, which represent 300 years of architectural design but each house also has a story. In the early 18th century, Newport was considered the “American Eden”, boasting beautiful open spaces and views of the sea with its cooling breezes. It attracted those of artistic persuasions as well as businessmen who could easily reach it from New York by the Fall River Steamship and railroad. It is still one of the most intact cities in North America.

The range of magnificent dwellings reflect 18th century colonial examples in the Point neighborhood, to the 19th century Gothic Revival, Shingle Style, and Beaux-Arts “cottages” of Bellevue Avenue. Although some of the most popular residences are the ostentation mansions, Newport was originally a working seaport. Hunter House (c.

1750) was one of the first homes built there for a colonial merchant and represents the rise of the mercantile class, which was a different world before the revolution. The home was the headquarters of the French Navy during the Revolutionary War. It is an 18th century American Georgian home, named in honor of the English monarchs George I, II, and III. This style was popular in both England and the American colonies and is characterized by a symmetrical façade.

The exterior of the house is covered in pine clapboards, which were widely available at the time. The use of hardwoods, such as oak, was typically reserved for shipbuilding.

Kingscote (1839), one of the first summer cottages in Newport, was built for George Noble Jones, a southern plantation owner, to escape the heat. Richard Upjohn and McKim, Mead, and White were the architects.

The renewed interest in Gothic architecture was part of a romantic movement that began in England in the late 18th century and reached its pinnacle in America during the middle of the 19th century.

40 The Breakers (18931895) is the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages” and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in Cornelius turn-of-the-century America.

Vanderbilt established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad, which was a pivotal development in the industrial growth of the nation during the late 19th century.

This style was inspired by a fascination with the pageantry of the medieval world. Architects looked to the gothic churches of medieval Europe as models. This style represented a departure from the rigid symmetry of architectural styles of earlier eras. These were ornate and picturesque, defined by their asymmetry, irregular rooflines, ornamental details, and bay windows that allowed the residents to view the gardens. As confederate loyalists, Jones fled at the outbreak of the Civil War. Chateaux-sur-Mer (1852), originally built

by William Shepard Wetmore, is an example of the Victorian era, which refers to the age of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901 and not to a particular architectural style. This period in history was a time of empire building and a rapid industrial revolution both in Britain, Europe, and the United States.

Technological advances allowed a new range of vibrant colors for fabrics, paints, and wallpaper, and made this era one of color and ornament. Designers took inspiration from every historical period from ancient Egypt, China, and Turkey as well as the Middle Ages and 18th century France.

distinguished career as Governor of Rhode Island and as a United States Senator.

The Elms (1899) was built by architect Horace Trumbauer for the Berwind family of Philadelphia and New York. Its architecture provided a perfect combination of fantasy and function. It recreated the romantic atmosphere of an 18th century French chateaux, which provided the family and their guests with every modern convenience. Trumbauer chose the Chateau d’Asnieres just outside of Paris for a model.

His grandson Cornelius Vanderbilt II became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad and built The Breakers.

Richard Morris Hunt was commissioned as architect. He designed a mansion in the Italian Renaissance style, modeled after the 16th century palaces and villas of Genoa and Turin, which celebrated the architecture of ancient Rome. Some of its key features are its central loggias on the first floor and second floor arches. The decorative ornamentations

Built for retired China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, Chateau-sur-Mer boasted a grand scale and ushered in the Gilded Age of Newport with its lavish parties. William’s son, George Peabody Wetmore, inherited the house and had a Top Left: Kingscote dining room Above: Kingscote entrance hall - Photos by Gavin Ashworth

Above: The Breakers Great Hall billiards room Below Left: The Breakers Great Hall - Photos by Gavin Ashworth Below Right: The Breakers dining room - photo by John Corbett

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Above: Marble House Alva's bedroom - Photo by Gavin Ashworth

Marble House foyer - Photo John Corbett

The Elms grand staircase - Photo Gavin Ashworth

The Breakers Loggia

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The Breakers aerial - Photo by Tom Roskelly

draw inspiration from classical Greek and Roman architecture.

In 1915, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, the third son of Cornelius II, was aboard the steamship Lusitania when it was sunk off the coast of Ireland at the start of World War I. He gave his life jacket to a woman who could not swim and lost his life. A memorial to his sacrifice can be seen in the town of Newport.

The Vanderbilts were a formidable presence at Newport.

William K. Vanderbilt, the brother of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, built Marble House (1888-1892). For Mrs. Vanderbilt (Alva), it was her “temple to the arts.”

Architect Richard Morris Hunt took his inspirations from two famous historic buildings dedicated to women: the Parthenon (5th century B.C.E., Athens) temple to Athena the goddess of wisdom and war, and the Petit Trianon (1760-64), Versailles, France built by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour, a powerful figure in shaping 18th century European art and culture. The monumental portico with Corinthian-style columns was inspired by the east façade of the Louvre, one of the great monuments of French classical architecture.

The William K. Vanderbilts had three children.

Consuelo became the 9th Duchess of

Marlborough. The goal of having a title was very popular at the time and many wealthy daughters were raised to expect this. They were called “Dollar Princesses”. (An Example is the fictional Downton Abbey’s Cora.)

William K.Vanderbilt, Jr. became a prominent figure in pioneering the sport of auto racing in America and founded the Vanderbilt Cup. Harold Stirling Vanderbilt was one of the finest yachtsmen of his era who successfully defended the America’s Cup three times. He also invented contract bridge.

The Vanderbilts divorced in 1895 and Alva married Oliver H. P. Belmont. She became a leader in the suffragette movement, hosting discussions in her tea house, rallies on her lawn, organizing marches to Washington, and becoming prominently involved in the movement.

The Isaac Bell House (1881-1883) represents the Shingle Style by McKim, Mead, and White. This was a critical time in the evolution of American domestic architecture. The Picturesque tradition inherited from Great Britain and Europe transformed American design. They designed an open floor plan. This concept of free-flowing interior space, taken from Japanese architecture, was revolutionary for America in 1883.

Rosecliff (1898-1902), built for Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs by McKim, Mead, and White, was a theatrical setting for grand parities and entertainments. It was inspired by the Grand Trianon (1687), the garden retreat designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart for Louis XIV of France in the park of Versailles. It is typical of architectural practice in the Gilded Age. Scenes from several films have been shot on location at Rosecliff including the Great Gatsby, True Lies, Amistad, and 27 Dresses.

George Chaplin Mason designed Chepstow (18601861), an Italianate Villa, for Edmund Schermerhorn.

Mason eventually designed seven summer cottages built for important summer colonists like the Belmont, Ogden, and Tiffany families.

The Italianate style began in England in the 1830s as part of the Picturesque movement in architecture and landscape design.

Newport was the center of high society summer life with dinner parties, sports, yachting, tennis, golf, and other pursuits.

You can relive those times by visiting and luxuriating in Newport.

On the web visit: www.newportmansions.org

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The New England Carousel Museum

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“Catch a Painted Pony on the Spinning Wheel Ride” Photos and profile by Caryn B. Davis he modern carousel finds its roots in jousting traditions performed by knights in Europe and the Middle East. They rode in circles, throwing balls to one another as a way to improve their dexterity and horsemanship. The calvary took it one step further, trading balls for swords to prepare for battle.

Later, brass rings on poles were introduced for riders to spear with swords or jousting lances to further refine deftness. This game gained in popularity among commoners, and chariots were implemented; so women, restricted by their clothing and unable to mount a horse, could still participate.

Eventually, the idea of a carousel took hold and carved wooden horses replaced live ones.

These crude merry-go-rounds first appeared at fairgrounds throughout England and Europe.

hide the mechanism, were decorated with mirrors or motifs rather than typography.

Ultimately, they made their way across the Atlantic Ocean; but unlike the European model, American carousels were altered to rotate counterclockwise. Also, the rounding boards found at the top of the carousel used to

“There were thousands of carousels at the turn of the last century. This is what people did with their leisure time. Together with their families and a picnic basket, they dressed in their Sunday finery and took the trolley to the end of

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the line where the smart transportation companies had built picnic groves, then merry-go-rounds, and later Amusement Parks,” says Louise DeMars, Executive Director of the New England Carousel Museum (NECM).

During their heyday, there were three basic

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styles of carving that emerged - the Country Fair Style, the Philadelphia Style, and Coney Island Style. The Philadelphia Style horses were very stately and realistically carved in lifelike poses and expressions.

These were found on carousels in public parks and represented the works of artists like Daniel Muller and the Dentzel Carousel Company. The Coney Island Style was the glitziest of them all. They were carved with flaming manes and adorned with flowers or jewels.

Artist, Marcus Illions and builders, Stein & Goldstein are synonymous with creating these types of carousels. By contrast, horses crafted in the Country Fair Style were less ornate and smaller because they traveled from fairground to fairground, rather than remaining in a fixed location. Ears and tails were carved directly into the head or body to avoid breakage during transport. Carver and builder, Charles Dare and carver, John Zalar are most associated with style.

“Dare carved the carousel in Watch Hill, Rhode Island and Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in the same year.

Watch Hill claims they are the oldest antique wooden carousel still operating in the country,

and Martha’s Vineyard says the same thing,” laughs DeMars.

Most of the horses and menagerie figures which constitute wild, domestic, and mythical animals and creatures are carved into three distinct stances that include a Prancer (two legs up, two legs down), a Stander (all four

feet remain on the carousel platform), and a Jumper (all four feet are off the carousel platform). Jumpers also move up and down. The largest and most opulent equines command the first row, while the smaller and less ornamental horses occupied the inside rows.

“As you get closer to the center pole, the circle

gets smaller and so do the horses to accommodate that. There was wisdom in how these machines were designed. The horses on the outside rows were only elaborately carved on one side. The backside was plain,” explains DeMars.

In the early 1940s thrill rides were invented, and the carousel became passé. Today there are less than 200 antique wooden carousels operating in the United States with three in Connecticut at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Lake Compounce in Bristol, and at Bushnell Park in Harford, which has been completely restored and is managed by the NECM. The NECM is located in Bristol and housed inside an 1837 hosiery factory. It started as a carousel building and restoration business but gained nonprofit status in 1990 after the company went bankrupt. The first horse the museum acquired was built in 1895 by the U.S. Merry-Go-Round Company. It came off a carousel at Lake Compounce and remains on display with approximately 150 other horses, menagerie and chariot pieces, and a fully functional Venetian carousel that had been used in a mall in Florida before being donated to the museum. The collection is well rounded

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Photo by Lisa Gibson Ronalter

Photo by Lisa Gibson Ronalter

Judy Baker & Lisa Gibson Ronalter

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with pieces representing some of the greatest carousel manufacturers and carvers of the day.

“Carousels were considered to be too tame, so people started busting them up. That is the correct terminology used for carousels that have been dismantled, sold off, or thrown away,” explains DeMars.

“Eventually people woke up and realized they were antiques. There was a big rush to save what was left.

We fight like mad if we hear one is in jeopardy. We may not have any money, but we have voice.”

The primary mission of the NECM is to preserve and protect “operating carousels and carousel memorabilia, and to create new carousel material for the education and pleasure of the general public.” This is why the museum will not accept a donation if they can’t document the life of the article going back at least 15 years, ensuring it did not recently come off a busted up carousel.

They also retain an onsite wood shop and painting studio where they create, repair, and restore pieces from their own collection and from others under their charge such as the 1914 Stein & Goldstein Bushnell Park carousel; the 1927 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Merry-Go-Round at Heritage State

Park in Holyoke, Massachusetts; and the 1895 Crescent Park Carousel in East Providence, Rhode Island built by preeminent carousel designer Charles I.D. Looff. This carousel has been placed on the National Register of Historic sites, has been declared as the State Jewel of American Folk Art, and has been des-

ignated as a National Historic Landmark. To assist with these endeavors, the NECM works with Master Carver and artist, Juan Andre and Master Painter, Judith Baker.

The Museum has acquired pieces from a variety of sources including the late Marianne Stevens, known as The Grand Dame of Historic Wooden Carousels. She amassed one

the largest collections in the world of handcarved carousels from the late 1800s-early 1900s and has penned several books on the subject. She donated a 1912 John Zalar carved game bird horse that came from a carousel at Ocean Beach Park in New London. It was reputed to be her favorite. Others came from Leroy Fox, the owner of Fox’s Foods and Thomas and Joseph Kiley, twin brothers from Katonah, New York, who keep many pieces from their collection on display.

The NECM is located in the same 30,000 square foot building as the Museum of Fire History and the Museum of Greek Culture. You can rent the museum, or their chandeliered ballroom, or their onsite art galleries featuring work from Connecticut artists for birthday parties, bridal showers, meetings, workshops, fundraisers, lectures, film screenings, weddings (Paula Abdul had her east coast wedding reception there), etc. They also host their own events such as their annual Mardi Gras Party, dances with music by Chaparrals, adult drawing lessons, and more. And don’t forget, they have a working carousel for your guests to ride!

For more information log onto: www.thecarouselmuseum.org.

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THE NEXT CONCERT IN THE GARDEN - SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017 - 4 - 6 P.M. JEREMIAH TALL BYOB and Picnic - Inside the Gallery Arrowhead strings along on most Sunday afternoons. Find out about the Concerts in the Garden, Leifs paintings and more at

www.nilssonstudio.com

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Weaving Old Traditions with New Friends: The World of Stephanie Morton

By Carolyn Battista Photos by A. Vincent Scarano

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nedible black walnuts make an incredible dye. “Throwing the shuttle” isn’t a violent act. Some people still follow a Quebecois tradition in which weaving may be accompanied by gossiping. Others weave regularly on big wooden looms that are nearly 300 years old.

If you meet Stephanie Morton, her colleagues, and her students, you’ll begin to learn about all this and more. Stephanie has been weaving and studying traditional ways of weaving and

dyeing since college. Now she runs The School for American Handweaving, offering workshops like “Rag Rugs,” Core-Spun “Alpaca/Wool Rugs,” and “Indigo Shibori” (tie-dyeing). She collaborates with spinners and dyers of yarn, with other weavers, and with people who raise alpacas and sheep. They all value sound practices in raising plants and animals, favor local resources, and have a high regard for recycling. When they get together, they have lots of say, lots to share. “Collaborations and friendships” Stephanie says, truly matter to them, as they do the work they love.

Stephanie has a studio in her Old Lyme home and leads a community weaving project at the Old Lyme Historical Society. Recently she joined forces with Caryn Erickson, who owns Flat Rock Farm in Lyme. The farm has

alpacas and chickens, Caryn’s home, a separate guest house, and a barn with space for looms and workshops.

On one chilly day, all was warm and lively in Stephanie’s home studio. Patricia Fortinsky of Tidal River Yarns, showed some yarn samples.

Patricia lives next to the Black Hall River, hence the name for the yarns that she spins and dyes.

“It’s a labor of love,” she said. She buys wool from New England sheep farmers, spins yarn

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Now Stephanie regularly offers classes in catalogne making, and Lori was showing some of her family’s catalognes. “My great-great grandmother wove that one in Coleraine, Canada,” she said. “These were made by my great aunt. She’s 89 now.” The catalognes, designed according to whatever was available, all looked fresh, bright, and ready for more use. “They wash up phenomenally,” Lori said. “My grandmother put them on couches. This is what we sat on.”

Guild of Connecticut began working together there to produce coverlets and to show what community weaving is all about.

Poised over three looms were two students and Jeanette Pringle, each weaving a catalogne.

One morning, five women gathered to weave on the 108”wide community loom. “It’s like a

Stephanie advised the students (and during spare moments, cut extra strips for them).

Jeanette paused to talk. “I like to get people excited about weaving,” she said. She acknowledged that it can be difficult to plan a piece, then set everything properly on the loom. But mistakes “are fixable,” she said, and once all is ready, “You just go!” When the finished piece comes off the loom, “It’s like Christmas!”

quilting bee,” Cathy Purcell said. “You cangossip,” Jody Brewer said. Here, one person is the “principal weaver” of a coverlet, with others helping. Each in turn, will become the “principal weaver” for her own coverlet.

Jody showed her finished catalogne—the first from the project. “I used old scraps of blue fabric,” she explained. “Some of it I had when I was a kid.”

by hand, and uses only natural materials, including plants in her garden, for her dyes. In the fall, she gathers black walnuts because she says, “when you soak the shells, you get a beautiful, dark dyeing liquid. “ She and Stephanie have teamed up to design and produce Connecticut River Blankets—custom ordered “heritage” blankets that are woven in Stephanie’s studio with Tidal River yarns.

Another weaver, Jeanette Pringle, works closely with them; and weavers from Stephanie’s Connecticut River Blanket workshops also help.

The blankets are intended for long, long use.

Lori Dziedzic overheard Patricia’s comments on black walnuts. Lori runs Flatland Alpacas in Griswold, uses natural dyes on her alpaca products, and came over to ask Patricia, would she like some extra bags of black walnuts?

Lori was in the studio because the day’s work would focus on “catalognes”- coverlets woven by generations of women in eastern Canada.

These women wasted nothing, ever. They wove beautiful, colorful catalognes fashioned from items like old bed linens cut into strips.

When Stephanie became interested in catalognes, she showed a few samples she’d acquired to Lori, who’s French Canadian; and

Having learned that sometimes Quebecois women worked together on large catalognes, Stephanie began a community loom project.

She set up a loom at the Old Lyme Historical Society, and members of the Handweavers’

Usually two people sit at the loom, carefully working the loom parts that make the pattern appear correctly; two others stand, one on each side, to “throw” back and forth the shuttle that carries the long strips of fabric being woven. “We have to work together,”

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Stephanie explained, or parts will wobble, lines will be uneven. The weavers worked— and chatted—steadily.

The weavers give demonstrations (recently, at an historical society open house), and a wall exhibit has photos with text that help visitors understand what goes into weaving each catalogne, including start-up tasks like winding of fabric strips onto 36 bobbins and placing 1,944 threads through individual heddles.

Not long ago Stephanie learned of two looms from the 1700’s that needed new quarters. One stood in a weaving shed in East Granby, Connecticut; the other was stored at the Gunn Historical Museum in Washington, Connecticut (where staff members were concerned because they lacked not only space, but also interpreters who could show visitors just how the looms were used).

Stephanie wanted to help, but she too lacked space. Then she spotted Caryn Erickson at the Old Lyme Farmers Market and said, “You have a barn, don’t you?” The two women began talking, thinking. Now the barn is home to looms, including the antiques, and new

ventures are being planned. “Caryn and I have been shaping retreat packages, where the entire farm experience will include weekends of staying at the guest house and weaving in the barn,” Stephanie explained. They’re also

thinking of retreats for other crafts, from knitting to woodworking, all with people sharing ideas, experience, and friendship in a lovely rural setting.

Caryn, a retired investment banker, had long dreamed of restoring an old farmstead. A few years ago she found Flat Rock (which dates to a 1694 land grant), moved into the main house with her son Max, now 13 (her “right-hand

man”), and plunged into tasks, from starting a garden to renovating the guest house.

She and Stephanie recently had a combined open house-open barn. Visitors toured the now very comfortable guest house, which is furnished with art and antiques from Caryn’s travels. Caryn, who has always liked to entertain, wowed people with her crab cakes, chicken satay, sourdough bread, and other specialties.

Those visiting the barn learned about Stephanie’s workshops, gently touched yarn and other samples, and heard Stephanie’s apprentice, Steve Pohl, tell what it was like to dismantle, move, and then reassemble a big antique loom, made mostly of chestnut.

“Holey moley, that was daunting,” he said, before resuming his weaving—of an alpaca/wool core-spun rug—on a 1700’s loom that still works just fine.

Both antique looms are expected to keep working just fine as Stephanie and Caryn’s new ventures evolve.

For more information: Stephaniemortonhandweaver.com Email: stephanemorton@gmail.com; Handweaversguildofct.org; flatrockfarmct.com or email carynerickson@gmail.com.

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CUBA P2P Photos and profile by Susan Cornell

Time travel is now available to Americans.

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here’s something extra attractive about going somewhere pretty much off-limits for more than half a century. Just come up with a good reason to visit Cuba, book transport, and you can immerse yourself in the sounds, sights, and flavors of a Caribbean island in the 1950s; since at least for now, the door is open.

It’s hard to believe that only 90 miles away by plane or boat, the world can be as different as traveling to another planet. It is one BIG island, nearly as large as Florida, yet rooted in another era. You rarely see Cubans or tourists on cell phones; instead you see pay phones and people making do with the basics for repairing, transporting, and plain living.

Think post-apocalyptic cities you experience on the big screen - add vivid colors through art and architecture to drab-gray crumbling buildings,

add in friendly folks everywhere approaching you to talk or playing dominoes on the street, surround this with music and aromas, and you have the recipe for the Cuban experience. Even if you’ve been to one or more Caribbean islands, don’t have preconceived ideas, for Cuba is unlike anything anywhere in the world.

Even though the time-travel window is open, Americans can’t just pop over for a leisurely vacation and lie on the beach.

You’ll need a stated reason falling within one of 12 categories such as visits to close relatives, academic programs, professional research, journalistic or religious activities, and participation in sports competitions or public performances. We may choose guided or self-directed “people to people” (aka P2P) excursions but we must also maintain a full-time schedule of activities and retain documents that show how our time was

spent.

By definition, a P2P produces “meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba.”

Other must-haves include an insurance policy for the trip, including a separate health insurance plan, since most American health insurance plans wouldn’t work in Cuba. Other essentials include both passport and tourist Visa and a good supply of actual cash, since your credit card, ATM card or Venmo is unlikely to work.

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Not ready to take the full gutsy plunge into Cuba independently, my family and I got our toes wet with an “intensive cultural immersion” cruise which circumnavigated Cuba, stopping at three cities and going the guided P2P route arranged by the cruise company. While we’ve traveled extensively throughout the world, I just wasn’t ready to explore a place without the security blanket of a cell phone for mapping, looking anything up on the fly, and making actual phone calls. Then there are concerns such as how to exchange wads of cash and trying to communicate if you don’t speak Spanish.

Cuba actually has two different currencies. The Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) is the “tourist” currency, pegged to the American dollar. The Cuban Peso (CUP) is what locals use. When you exchange money as a tourist, you’ll receive CUC. You can exchange US dollars for CUC, but there is a special 10 percent penalty fee for this service.

So it’s cheaper to exchange Euros, Canadian Dollars, Mexican Pesos, or British Pounds instead.

While I have no regrets with the guided P2P choice, like most fears in life, if you understand the particular issue properly, there is nothing to worry about. Next time – and there will be a next time – we will venture out into the countryside with confidence. But what really is a P2P, and is there enough depth when you’re only in a particular place for a few hours or a couple of days? While technically the cruise was under the Carnival Corporation auspices, it is about unleashing human potential,

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Top: View of â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Capitol,â&#x20AC;? or National Capitol Building in Havana, Cuba from the Gran Teatro de La Habana. Bottom: View from Hotel Ambos Mundos, the first residence famous writer Ernest Hemingway.

"Cubanos, Castros, crazy colors, cool cars, culture, coffee and cigars are among the many ingredients of the country of Cuba."

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San Francisco de Assisi Square, Havana. Built in 1608, the church stands tall amid the cobblestones in the plaza.

deepening relationships, and being part of a larger collective impact story.

Thus, while we were visiting the forts, museums, churches, statues, and performances and gawking at the hundreds of old American and Russian automobiles, the idea was about giving and receiving, personal interactions. This included asking and answering questions of musicians, dancers, artisans, those who own their own restaurants, and just plain people on the streets.

I’d describe the lion’s share of Cubans as friendly; yet they are also guarded in what they say. The farther we were from Havana, however, the more open people were. Of course there’s propaganda everywhere; and I’m sure we only saw what the government wanted us to see and hear, which is probably true everywhere in the world.

This trip exposed emotions more than any other – there was the heartbreaking story told by a fellow traveler whose family was broken

up when he fled after the Revolution and came to the US as a child; there was a “respectful disagreement” between a Cuban tour guide and another traveler over what happened to the Operation Peter Pan kids (did they or did they not land in a concentration camp?); there was the moving performance of a Russian Christmas song by the Coro Madrigalista choir, and then there were the rapping grandmothers who were part of the social and cultural project Cabildo Quisicuaba, which helps the elderly cope with AIDS. Powerful stuff.

The island and its incredibly mixed bag of people of different ethnic origins and religions is beautiful, and yet it is so sad what Communism has wrought. The buildings are crumbling, the streets seem as old as the cars, the store shelves are often pretty barren; and with ration coupons it’s difficult to obtain necessities.

We wanted to bring with us simple nonmonetary donations such as soaps, shampoos,

hand sanitizers, and school supplies, knowing that these basics are often in short supply. A few days before sailing, however, we were advised not to bring donations since the “very intentional focus is on bringing empowerment to our friends and partners. Giving things is more complicated than you might think - and we want to be mindful of long-term, sustainable development and empowerment.”

If you are interested in years and years of incredible history, politics, economics, art, architecture, music, culture, food, religion, and, of course, cool cars, by all means go. But go sooner than later as not only will Cuba likely change rapidly if Americans “ruin it” with Starbucks and McDonalds everywhere, but the door may shut again and this journey may not be available to us at all.

Travel Checklist What to buy • Rum • Cigars • Coffee • More rum

What to bring • American Dollars – bring more than you need to be safe. If you run out, you’re pretty much out of luck.

• Even better than American Dollars – Euros, Canadian dollars, British Pounds, or Mexican Pesos.

• BYO Toilet Paper, or be ready to tip the bathroom attendant.

What to Wear and What Not to Wear • Comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone and streets in need of repair • Casual, August in Connecticut apparel (average humidity is 78 percent) • Leave precious jewelry at home

What to read/watch beforehand • Cuba (DK Publishing) • Moon Cuba (Christopher P. Baker) • Waiting for Snow in Havana (Carlos Eire) • The Cuba Libre Story (8-episode documentary on Netflix)

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Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

The 12 Families of Cheese – Part II I hope by now you were able to read my last month’s column, which was Part I of The 12 Families of Cheese. Together, these two parts make up the basis of my Cheese 101 class, which I hold from time to time. You may find that you do not like a few of the families. I often have customers who dislike soft cheeses and prefer hard or semi-soft choices, for example, or they avoid washed rind cheeses because of their pungent aroma.

When buying cheese, knowing these preferences makes it easier as it helps to limit your choices.

• Blue These are generally smaller cheeses, two to 15lbs. After the cheese is set, firm needle holes are made in the cheese where a blue mold is injected.

Examples are: Stilton, Gorgonzola, Blue, Blue Castello, Cambozola Black, Shropshire Blue, Arethusa Blue, Point Reyes Blue and, of course, Roquefort.

• Port Salut When entertaining, depending on the size of the group you are trying to serve, choosing four to six families is adequate. Remember, if you can describe the size of the cheese, its color, type of rind, texture, aroma and a little of the flavor characteristics, chances are very good that your cheese monger will be able to find your cheese - or maybe one you might like even better.

• Dutch (Gouda) This has become not only one of the most popular cheese families, but the largest volume by weight of any cheese family sold. Most are over six months in age and lactose-free. Not only growing in popularity, they are also growing in the selection of milk offered. In the last twenty years, I have seen so many new goat and sheep milk versions make the scene.

Goudas are medium-ripening cheeses that are most often waxed. They are usually consistent and keep well. You will notice only small changes month-to-month as they ripen.

Examples are: Cow Goudas, Beemster Vlaskaas, Beemster Classic, Beemster XO, Dutch Edam, French Mimolette, Old Amsterdam, Prima Donna and Parrano Goat Goudas, Dutch Polder Goat, Dutch Midnight Moon, Dutch Girl, Beemster Goat, Sheep Goudas, Dutch Ewephoria, Dutch Lamb Chopper

• Tilsit This family used to be so much more prevalent than it is today. Back in the sixties, Denmark renamed their version of Tilsit to Havarti so as not to compete with other countries’ Tilsits. Then they re-invented it by adding more butterfat (60%) and calling it Creamed Havarti. Cheesemakers took it one step further by removing the initial washed rind covering and packing it in cry-o-vac, thereby eliminating its natural rind.

Original Danish Tilsit, a very common item yesteryear, is now almost impossible to find.

Tilsits are a medium-aged cheese, usually with small eye formations (holes). These cheeses are usually ready after a few months and hold up well. Most are on the mild side but get more pungent with a little aging.

Examples are: German Tilsit, Swiss Tilsit, Danish Tilsit (most popular being creamed Havarti), Swedish Farmers, Austrian Grinzing, Italian Crucolo

These are also a medium ripening cheese, but without eye formations.

Examples are French Port Salut, Tomme de Savoie, St. Marcellin, Morbier, Reblochon (no longer available in the United States) and Delice du Jura.

• Hard These are well-aged cheeses that often require years to mature. Hard cheeses are generally pressed and heavily salted, and it takes many months to begin to taste differences in the cheese. Even though these cheeses are made from cow, sheep and goat milk, they have enough similar properties to be placed together.

Examples are: Parmigiano Reggiano, Romano, Asiago, Pepato, Sardo, Grana Padana, Provolone, Džiugas, Pecorino Toscano

• Goat and Sheep These I rank together because I find that most people are looking for the different tastes of the two milks. Cheeses from this family can be found as fresh cheese, soft-ripening, medium-aged and hard cheese.

Examples of fresh would be most goat logs, Montrachet, Crottin, Valencey Pyramids and Cochran Farms Mohawk Mist Examples of soft-ripening would be Bucheron goat logs, Clochette Belles, Chevrot, Chabichou and Cochran Farms St. Johnsville Examples of aged are: Romano, Tomme Crayeuse, Midnight Moon, Lamb Chopper, Gjetost, Feta, Kasseri, Beemster Goat, Abbay de Belloc, Ossau Iraty When buying cheese, it is best to ignore the term “artisan” since so many new products made today are now labeled artisan or artisan-inspired and the term is overused. In my opinion, this compares to the gourmet label. Remember when gourmet meant something? Can everyone have the world’s best gourmet coffee?

I hope my method is of some help to you.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

MARCH EVENTS

78 2nd Annual Art & Craft Beer Event at GAC | March 3 | 6 – 8:30 pm

Sō Percussion in A Gun Show | Quick Center for the Arts | March 2, 2017 A Gun Show is an exploration of issues such as race, economic inequality, public safety and constitutional rights through music, text and movement. The works origins started as a way for the artists to process their emotions after the unfathomable school shootings in Newtown, CT but has since grown into a much larger collaborative process and conversation – What is it about our collective psyche that fastens so tightly to guns?

With its innovative multi-genre original productions, sensational interpretations of modern classics, and “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam” (The New Yorker), S Percussion redefines the scope of the modern percussion ensemble. For over 15 years, this ensemble, formed by Eric Beach, Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski, and Jason Treuting, has engaged in creative collaborations and released 16 albums.

Sample some of Connecticut’s best craft brews at Guilford Art Center’s Art & Craft Beer Fundraiser, scheduled for Friday, March 3 from 6-8:30 pm at Guilford Art Center.

Guests are invited to try a selection of beers from area breweries. There will be bar food; wine and non-alcoholic beverages also will be served.

Additionally, there will be a silent auction of brewery tours, growlers (large glass jugs for beer), and bar accessories designed by GAC staff and students.

Reservations for Art & Craft Beer are $50 per person, with proceeds to benefit Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs. Reservations are limited; call to make a reservation: 203-453-5947 or pay for reservations online at: www.guilfordartcenter.org.

Eric Whitacre Singers | March 4 | 8 pm

http://quickcenter.fairfield.edu/ Taj Mahal Solo at The Warehouse at FTC | March 2 | Doors 7 pm | Show 8 pm Grammy winner Taj Mahal is one of the most influential American Blues and Roots artists of the past half-century – a key figure in American music whose melding of blues with music from around the world is nothing short of revolutionary. Though the blues is always recognizable in his songs, it is an upbeat blues, often synthesizing diverse influences from Caribbean, Indian, African and Hawaiian music.

The moniker Taj Mahal came to Henry Saint Clair Fredericks in a dream, and now stands proud as shorthand for one of the prime movers on the blues, folk, and roots music scenes. To really feel the man’s essence, trust us when we say: it’s rewarding to hear him live.

“Taj is the most important bridge we have between blues, rock n roll and contemporary music. He’s as bad as they get.” – Bonnie Raitt Ticket info: http://fairfieldtheatre.org

Young at Art at Mystic Museum of Art | March 3 – March 25 The region’s biggest annual youth art exhibition is back at Mystic Museum of Art. Young At Art showcases creative work from hundreds of regional students ages eighteen and younger in Mystic Museum of Art’s galleries. Come see original artwork in a variety of media from oil, photography, and sculpture to mixed media. Art from all over New London County and Rhode Island with many group projects from area schools is displayed.

The exhibition is part of Mystic Museum of Art’s commitment to fostering creativity in the community.Young At Art brings families together in a community space and encourages the use of art to advance learning in our region’s schools.

Ticket info: http://www.mysticmuseumofart.org/

Submit Your Events Listings to: Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre, with his pop-star-like onstage presence, has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Eric Whitacre Singers, his hand-picked Grammy Award-winning professional choir, performs everything from Monteverdi and Bach to Lauridsen, Britten and Whitacre. Ever-expanding audiences have a passion for Whitacre’s signature compositional fingerprints, which include diatonic chord clusters, unconventional chord progressions, and frequent changes of meter. $2 off each ticket (1 per senior) Learn more and purchase tickets: http://jorgensen.uconn.edu/events The Dancing Room | Quick Center for the Arts | March 7 – 9 As part of the Quick Center Arts Incubator Program, we are committed to supporting artists in the creation process of new work. In addition to providing a space for Adele Myers and Dancers to create their new work, The Dancing Room, the Quick Center is also pleased to serve as Co-Commissioner of this new work.

Made up of four female athletes of the heart, Adele Myers and Dancers will share their newest heart-pounding and exhilarating work The Dancing Room, an evening-length multi-disciplinary performance featuring interactive media artist, John Slepian, ongoing collaborator and composer, Josh Quillen (of S Percussion) and visual and lighting direction by Kathy Couch. Performed in the round, The Dancing Room is a work of illumination and accumulation.

The Dancing Room is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in partnership with The Yard, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and NPN. For more information: www.npnweb.org.

Ticket info: http://quickcenter.fairfield.edu/

MARCH EVENTS

79 Marc Maron: The Too Real Tour | March 10 | 8 pm | College Street Music Hall

The Flaming Lips | March 8 | 8 pm The Flaming Lips are an American rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.

Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles”, “Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)” and “Yeah, I Know It’s a Drag… But Wastin’ Pigs Is Still Radical”. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and frontman Wayne Coyne’s signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die”.

Ticket info: http://www.collegestreetmusichall.com Brain Candy Live at the Bushnell | March 8 | 7:30 pm It’s what your mind is hungry for…

For over twenty years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing raw, honest and thought-provoking comedy for print, stage, radio, online and television. A legend in the stand-up community, Maron has appeared on many television talk shows, including David Letterman, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Charlie Rose and Bill Maher. He has appeared on Conan O’Brien more than any other comedian.

In 2012, TIME Magazine included Maron in its short list of the 100 Most Influential People and was nominated for two Comedy Central 2012 Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Podcast and Best Comedy App. He also travels the world performing sold-out, stand-up comedy shows and delivering lectures on podcasting, technology, and his journey through comedy. In 2011, Maron was given the honor of delivering the Keynote Address at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and he has more recently spoken at Princeton, USC, and at the 2015 Podcast Movement Festival and AdTech.

Ticket info: http://www.collegestreetmusichall.com

Adam Savage, one of television’s most loved personalities, has joined forces with Michael Stevens, one of YouTube’s biggest stars and they’re coming to a theater near you.

They’re bringing along more than three tons of their crazy toys, incredible tools and mind-blowing demonstrations for a celebration of curiosity that’s an interactive, hands-on, minds-on theatrical experience like no other.

Brain Candy Live has been described as “A cross between TED Talks and the Blue Man Group.”

Tickets can be purchased at The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900, in person at the door or online at www.Bushnell.org.

Stars of American Ballet | March 11 | 7:30 pm Eastern Connecticut Ballet and The Garde are proud to co-present “Stars of American Ballet” on Saturday March 11, 2017 at 7:30pm to mark ECB’s Silver 25th Anniversary and to promote the art of dance in our region.

Experience a breath-taking performance by a cast of stellar dancers from New York City Ballet: Sara Mearns, Jared Angle, Teresa Reichlen, Amar Ramasar, Daniel Ulbricht and Lauren King. Stars of American Ballet “brings the best dancers to America’s front door”.

Live Poets Society – An Evening with Marilyn Nelson | March 9 | 5:30 – 8 pm Marilyn Nelson will perform at Hill-Stead’s Live Poets Society event to benefit The Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Tickets are available at hillstead.org and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. This is a rare opportunity to experience a performance by Marilyn Nelson in the intimate setting of HillStead’s period rooms.

Ticket info: http://www.hillstead.org/event/eve-poetry/

With music by all American composers, the program reflects the brilliance of legendary choreographer George Balanchine, including Stars and Stripes, Tarantella and Who Cares, his exuberant tribute to the music of George Gershwin. Also on the program is New York City Ballet Artistic Director Peter Martins’ Barber Violin Concerto in which “the worlds of ballet and modern dance collide”.

The pieces will highlight the speed, artistry, musicality and athleticism distinct to New York City Ballet, a perfect program for all audiences.

Ticket info: www.gardearts.org.

MARCH EVENTS

80 Martha Redbone’s Bone Hill Band | March 17 | 7:30 pm General Admission: $25, Seniors & USJ Alumni: $20, Students: $15

An Exhibition in Four Acts at Lyme Art Association | March 17 – April 28 Four new exhibitions, each with a different theme, will be on view in the Lyme Art Association’s beautiful historic galleries from March 17 through April 28.

A Contemporary Look, Holding Still, Industrious America, and LAA Faculty run concurrently.

Presented as a dramatic musical work with a cast of 12 actors/musicians, Bone Hill: The Concert is a devised, interdisciplinary theater work inspired by Martha Redbone’s family lineage in the Appalachian Mountains. An epic story of one woman’s return to her homeland on Black Mountain and the coal mines of Harlan County, KY where her family have dwelled for centuries. http://www.usj.edu/arts/

The Exhibition in Four Acts is one of our most dynamic and exciting exhibitions, bringing together four distinct types of representational art. Industrious America showcases the work of talented artist members who set out to celebrate American industry and the man-made landscape. A Contemporary Look is an exhibition of abstracted, yet still representational work. Holding Still features still life works in all mediums, and LAA Faculty features work by our outstanding and talented studio instructors. Each exhibition is shown in one of the four skylit galleries in our historic building.

“A visit to the Lyme Art Association to see the Exhibition in Four Acts feels like visiting four different galleries. There is a variety and a shift in mood as you move from one gallery to the next,” states gallery manager, Jocelyn Zallinger.

“This show also allows a visitor to focus on each genre in a way that is not possible in other exhibitions.”

The opening reception for all four exhibitions is free to the public, and will be held on Sunday, March 26 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the gallery, located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Ticket info: www.lymeartassociation.org

The Cat in the Hat at Westport Country Playhouse | March 19 | 1 & 4 pm From the moment his tall, red-and-white striped hat appears at their door, Sally and her brother know that the Cat in The Hat is the most mischievous cat they will ever meet. Suddenly a rainy afternoon is transformed by the Cat and his antics. Will their house ever be the same? Can the kids clean up before mom comes home? With some tricks (and a fish) and Thing Two and Thing One, with The Cat in The Hat the fun’s never done! Ages 3+.

Ticket info: http://www.westportplayhouse.org

Assassins at Yale Repertory Theatre | March 17–April 08, 2017 United in states of disillusionment and alienation, nine men and women emerge from the shadows of the 19th and 20th centuries to take what they believe is their best—and only—shot at the American Dream. Fueled by our national populism in politics and in song, this Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece is a bone-chilling thrill ride through U.S. history.

WILL POWER! Assassins is the second of Yale Rep’s two 2016–17 WILL POWER! productions.

The run includes 10:15AM performances on April 4 and 6, 2017, available only to high school groups. For information on WILL POWER! performances, please contact Roger-Paul Snell at yalerep@yale.edu.

University Theatre | 222 York Street, New Haven, CT 06511 Ticket info: https://www.yalerep.org

Submit Your Events Listings to: Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

Concert in the Garden with Jeremiah Tall | March 19 | 4 – 6 pm Inspired by an unwavering love for summers spent in the mountains, along with the tall tales from his youth, Jeremiah Tall is a one-man show based out of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Tall’s tales range from the struggles of finding your feet on an ever-changing landscape to fictional stories of cowboys and the common man’s battle with the devil. A hand painted suitcase converted into a kick drum provides a backbone to his own throwback spin on folk rock. http://www.jeremiahtall.com For more information call 860-526-2077 or log on to http://nilssonstudio.com.

MARCH EVENTS

81 Swan Day CT | March 25 | 5 pm

Jersey Boys at the Bushnell | March 22 – 26 | Showtimes Vary

This is the ten year celebration of Swan Day CT supporting women in the arts! We are making it a gala this year with an amazing event at the beautiful Trinity-on-Main concert hall! Come dressed to impress and ready to party!

“TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!” raves the New York Post for Jersey Boys, the 2006 Tony Award® winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi.

The most beautiful voices of the past decade will be rocking the mic with their bands of all genres… from

This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30!

Ticket info: www.Bushnell.org.

rock to jazz to funk and alternative.

We have women age 15-80 participating and let me tell you… they are the best of the best! You DO NOT want to miss this year!

Add in a pop up mall containing the most awesome locally made goods and artists, as well as amazing burlesque acts, fashion mavens, photog queens and filmmakers and you’ve got a recipe for perfection.

The amazing Ebony Amber will be co hosting alongside WTNH Channel 8 CT Style host Ryan Kristafer Special guest godmother of rock n roll June Millington will be joining us to talk about being the first all girl rock band to sign to a major label and if we are lucky maybe sit in on a song!

Bands: Murderous Chanteuse, Tiny Ocean, Nan Roy, Parlor Walls, Elizabeth Dellinger, Nikki Mathis, Patti Rothberg, Canyon, Scarlett, That Virginia Gracie Day, Terri Gladwell, Sarah Golley, Jen Taylor

Red Hot Chilli Pipers at Infinity Hall Hartford | March 23 | 8 pm Bagpipes, guitars and drums, Oh My!! For over a decade, Scotland’s Red Hot Chilli Pipers (not to be confused with the Red Hot Chili Peppers) have been burning up stages all over the world with their brand of foot-stomping, handclapping Celtic rock mayhem!!

Burlesque Beauties: Vivienne LaFlamme, Mistress Leona Star. Harley Foxx The Visceral Movement Dancers Tickets are $18 – https://www.showclix.com/event/SWANDAYCT2017

Ticket info: http://www.infinityhall.com/Events

Hat City on Tap | March 25 | 5 – 8 pm

Fishbone at The Warehouse at FTC | March 23 | Doors 7 pm | Show 8 pm Original Lineup!

Legendary in the history of American ska and rock fusion by combining equal parts of deep funk, high-energy punk, and frantic ska, Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late ’80s.

It’s hard to put into words the sheer thunder of Fishbone live. The mix of bass, keyboards, 3 brass instruments, 5 vocalists, drums, guitar and a loud PA combine to create a molten mix of deep funk / frantic ska / high-energy punk that has solidified their undisputed reputation as one of the best live acts in music history.

Ticket info: http://fairfieldtheatre.org

Held in cities around the nation, America on Tap is a beer festival featuring a wide range of premium craft beers from around the world. The festival held in Danbury, CT, is a three-hour event with over 100 samples for beer enthusiasts to choose from. Festivalgoers also have the chance to listen to several live music performances and sample from the many food vendors that contribute their cuisine.

Tickets are $35 or $55 for early access VIP tickets Buy here Event Website Danbury Ice Arena | 1 Independence Way Danbury, CT 06810

MARCH EVENTS

82

Spring Fling at the New England Carousel Museum Featuring Al Fenton Big Band | March 25 | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm Swing, dip, and jive your way into the new season at the Spring Fling featuring the 21 piece Al Fenton Big Band! Tickets are $15 and pre-paid tables of 8 or more may be reserved ahead of time. This is a BYOB event and snacks and setups will be available for purchase. Grab your saddle shoes and best vintage attire and come dance the night away!

The Al Fenton Big Band performs a variety of music including blues, jazz and swing. This music lends itself to many styles of dancing, either alone or with a partner. Enjoy the music, dancing; and spend time socializing with friends or come to make some new ones!

Ticket info: http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org/book-online

Princess Tea at the New England Carousel Museum | March 26 | Noon – 2 pm Hear ye, hear ye! All little princesses across the land are invited to enjoy an afternoon of magic and fantasy at New England Carousel Museum’s Princess Tea. This enchanted tea party for children and their parents will feature cookies and juices, wand craft, story time, carousel rides, and magic and balloons by Amazing Magical Paul. The fairy-tale will continue with a royal meet and greet and photo opportunity with a special guest princess.

The Princess Tea is priced at $15.00 per child and $5.00 per adult. Tiaras and princess dresses are highly encouraged.

Reservations are required and this event is expected to sell out. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this afternoon of fun and make-believe.

The event will be held at the New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave, Bristol, CT. Ticket info: http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org/book-online

Billy Crystal at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre | March 25 | 8 pm Comedy legend Bill Crystal is coming to the Toyota Oakdale Theater for and evening guaranteed to have your sides splitting! Don’t miss your chance to see Billy Crystal live! http://www.oakdale.com Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Show at Infinity Hall Hartford | March 25 | 8 pm You’ve probably heard about this amazing group as they’re selling out venues all across the country.

So here’s your chance to come see and hear for yourself. And who doesn’t love the music of Van Morrison? They play all Van’s hits, some great album tracks and their lead singer is not only spot on when it comes to the vocals but he’s as entertaining as Van himself.

Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska. The group consists of John Gourley, Zach Carothers, and Kyle O’Quin. Gourley and Carothers met and began playing music together in Wasilla High School.

Their first two albums were released on Fearless Records. On April 2, 2010, the band signed to Atlantic Records.

Ticket info: http://www.infinityhall.com/Events/

Ticket info: http://www.collegestreetmusichall.com

Submit Your Events Listings to: Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

Portugal. The Man | College Street Music Hall| March 28 | 8 pm

Step Into 2017

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