Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

Meat Smoking in low temperature

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill BBQ class. Alessandro Piovezahn, master of the smoke and flame, brings his genius technique to the table, blending Brazilian BBQ traditions with American smoking hardware. Low-temp smoking with mesquite wood chips infuses the meat with deep, unapologetic flavor, while a final flare on the grill ensures every bite is tender, juicy, and perfectly charred. Forget rubs and marinades. Here, it’s all about rock salt, fire, and guts.

You’ll tackle ribeye, skirt steak, pork loin, chicken, and sausages as you learn Alessandro’s low-and-slow method. But first, kick things off with Picanha, Brazil’s prized cut served as an appetizer, grilled to perfection and paired with farofa, spicy pork sausage, and a refreshing caipirinha. And the feast doesn’t stop there.

Think grilled vegetables bursting with smoky goodness, baked sweet potatoes turned ridiculously indulgent, creamy Brazilian Mayo Salad, Very Garlicky Bread that’s exactly as it sounds, and an ethereal Brazilian Cream Caramel Pudim that’s the perfect sweet ending.

This is food that makes you sweat, laugh, and savor every bite. Alessandro will teach you the truth of meat, the essential dance of smoke and flame. Are you ready to fire it up? Join us.

The Silo Cooking School
44 Upland Road
New Milford CT 06776
Meat Smoking – Low Temp and Heavy Smoking for meat heaven w/ Alessandro Piovezahn – Sat. Jul. 5 @ 11am

A Frayed Edge by Stace Dillard

A Frayed Edge – A Solo Exhibit by Stace Dillard

Come visit this exhibit composed of vibrant, abstract mixed-media compositions characterized by geometric structures, overlapping colors, and patterns. While each collage is unique, the artist’s distinct style can be seen in everything she does.

Art Opening: Saturday, August 30th | 3-5pm
Viewing Dates: August 29 – Sept 21

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
1 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot, CT
https://judyblackpark.org

Cornwall Annual Rummage Sale

Cornwall Woman’s Society’s rummage features highly marketable goods at four locations on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning. Shop for clothing, furniture, sporting goods, dishes, household items, bedding, games & toys and more. Proceeds provide scholarships to regional high school graduates and support to local non-profits. Visit facebook.com/cornwallwomanssociety

Cornwall Town Hall
United Church of Christ Parish House
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Mohawk Ski Lodge
http://facebook.com/cornwallwomanssociety

Poetry Reading

The Hickory Stick Bookshop is excited to welcome author Nicholas Benson who will be reading from his latest book of poetry “I Commissioned Some Wooden Luggage” on Sunday, June 29th at 2 pm.

ABOUT THE BOOK

While backpacking in Europe as a teenager in the 1980s, Nick Benson stumbled on a window display in a Venetian gallery that caught his eye: it featured a beautifully carved duffle-bag sculpted from wood, complete with drawers. For the itinerant Benson, this objet d’art was a source of fascination: “you could keep your travel bag by your bed and be ready to go, but it could also be a useful piece of furniture…I would have commissioned some wooden luggage, if not for the price tag… instead it became a metaphor and took on a life of its own. I didn’t realize it then, but it’s the embodiment of wanting opposing things at once. It seems to sum up this permanent sense of duality-rootedness and restlessness”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicholas Benson, son of a US diplomat, was born in West Germany in 1966 and grew up in Yugoslavia, Turkey, and the USSR. He holds a PhD in Italian (New York University, 1999) and an MFA in Writing (Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2009).

A cup of coffee and a book of poetry…Benson is an English teacher at the Frederick Gunn School in Washington. He also translates Italian literature (poetry, books, a short novel). He loves cooking, and he loves coffee. Since 2007, he has been roasting his own coffee beans. He turned his passion for coffee into a business, and now he is a micro-roaster. He has a loyal following in Litchfield County.

Author photograph – Mike Yamin.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“Benson’s poems are a mixture of wit and sorrow, satire and self-reckoning, urban pastoral and epigram; they manifest themselves in a myriad of inventive forms, including experiments with line, collage, and poetic sequence-making. They are cosmopolitan, urbane, and just plain damn smart poems.” — David Wojahn

“A terrific poet, Benson’s poems range from a kind of Whitmanesque vision as he tries to visit an old Jewish graveyard in NY to intense lyrics that as he says in one poem, would ‘rescue your breaking heart.’ This is a poet and translator with a wide range of talents.” — Richard Jackson

This event is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve copies of “I Commissioned Some Wooden Luggage” by calling The Hickory Stick Bookshop at (860) 868 0525, or shop our website 24/7 at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.

The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794
https://hickorystickbookshop.com/event/2025-06-11/nicholas-benson-poetry-reading

Page to Plate

Page to Plate *New This Year!*
Saturday, August 2, 10:00 am-4:30 pm

Our brand-new, all-day, culinary-literary experience, where books and bites meet. Learn how to prepare amazing recipes, catch cooking demos, and listen to the chef’s stories. Signed cookbooks will be available for sale all day.

Welcome to Hotchkiss Library of Sharon

Sharon Summer Book Signing

27th Annual Sharon Summer Book Signing

Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 3, 2025

Join us under the white tent to celebrate libraries and the Freedom to Read. Your ticket grants you access to meet 29 authors,
buy their books, and enjoy a delightful selection of hors d’oeuvres and refreshing drinks. Eight festive dinners at fabulous homes follow, providing a chance for in-depth conversation with authors.

Library Book Signing 2025

Bantam Mural

The 9-by-30-foot mural that will be displayed on the elevator tower of the Bantam Arts Factory is done and it will be unveiled June 29!

The unveiling event takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the top floor of the Arts Factory building. All are invited to attend.

The mural features a central image of a woman making pottery surrounded by references to other defining elements of Litchfield, including agriculture, the cinema and residents in the film business, the town’s bakeries, chefs and food establishments – and the signature Bantam rooster.

It was painted by artist and muralist @daniellemailer of Goshen, with some help from community members.

The @litchfieldartscouncil is proud to sponsor this ambitious public art project. It will be a memorable landmark piece for Litchfield residents and those who visit our town.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about the mural project should email Arts Council Chair Priscilla Jeffrey at lacadmin@litchfieldartscouncil.org

BANTAM ARTS FACTORY
931 BANTAM ROAD, BANTAM CT 06750
TOP FLOOR; ELEVATOR ACCESSIBLE

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