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

Top 25 Road Less Travelled Destinations with Dr. Richard Benfield

Wednesday, April 9 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Registration is required to attend In-Person.
Zoom Participants do not need to register,

The 25 sights and places you should visit when you retire, or before!

In recent years there have been a multitude of books charting the thousands of places you must see, such as gardens, historic sights, churches or cemeteries, before you die. Let’s consider the thrill of visiting and exploring some of these unique places as you retire, or simply have the inclination to travel at any time.

Dr. Richard Benfield, past chair of Geography at CCSU and a visitor to over 137 countries, will outline his Top 25 list. He will eschew the obvious and popular (Sistine Chapel, Big Ben, Grand Canyon) and take you on what Robert Frost called the road less travelled; places for adventure and places rarely mentioned in “1000 places you must see.”

Thus, we will see the oldest human-made artifact in the world (800,000 years old), 40,000-year-old Paleolithic Art, the great cathedrals of Europe, majestic mountains, the Panama Canal, gorillas in the mist and much more. Join us for this visually inspiring one-hour journey and get valuable tips for your next big adventure.

Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
https://www.owlibrary.org/adult-events.aspx

Meet the Author: Rod Oneglia: A Quiet Grief

Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM In Person ONLY
Registration Required

Join us as Litchfield resident and author Rod Oneglia shares his latest novel, A Quiet Grief. This historical novel begins in 1938 when a young, idealistic propaganda minister in Benito Mussolini’s fascist government (Gianni Orlandini) meets a Venetian girl of patrician family (Gabriella De Luca), also a nurse in the Italian Red Cross. Enraptured, they fall in love and plan to marry – all as Adolf Hitler places his first Nazi SS operatives in Rome to secure his “Pact of Steel” with Mussolini prior to the start of World War II.

Rod Oneglia loves Italy. All of it. For its unbelievable history, its art, its architecture, its food and especially for the diversity of its regions settled by peoples from all corners of the globe who traversed its boundaries over the centuries introducing their own cultures into the mix. His education includes a BA from Middlebury College, study abroad in Florence, a JD from the University of Connecticut, and a year at the Wharton School. Rod is a multifaceted writer, having authored three plays, a musical, a humor book, a collection of Vietnam War poems, and a series of short stories. Additionally, he sculpts bronze works which are part of private collections and a museum.

Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
https://www.owlibrary.org/adult-events.aspx

#REINVENTINGTHEAD – Photographs
April 15 – May 22
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 17 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM

ARTIST STATEMENT:
I’ve cultivated a love for imagery that lives within the context of two parallel worlds; that of visual advertising, and, where and how that advertising exists in the world that it’s trying to influence. This Instagram project which I’ve named #REINVENTINGTHEAD, is a unique look at how advertising prevails as both central character and antagonist in the visual story that we all live in. The convergence of these two visual worlds can be found within a window’s reflection or in the unique juxtapositions of what is both planned and unplanned.

#REINVENTINGTHEAD is a compilation of original photographs, taken not with professional equipment, but with various generations of cellphone cameras that I have carried with me for over ten years. The images are meant to be artful, highlighting how a simple camera, paired with Instagram can be utilized as a legitimate vehicle for artists to procure and catalog their work. Paired with thought-provoking and sometimes humorous captions, these images should prompt you to observe the world of advertising in a completely new and different way.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Stuart has been snapping pictures since he was a teen. His passion was to become a photojournalist after studying journalism and video communications at Southern Connecticut State University in the 80’s. He worked for several area newspapers including the Hartford Courant, Waterbury Republican and Manchester Journal Inquirer as a field photographer and darkroom assistant, and also traveled through Europe and Australia doing freelance travel photography before eventually settling into retail business ownership here in CT.

At the age of sixty-one, this is Stuart’s first gallery showing. Along with #REINVENTINGTHEAD, Stuart routinely contributes to several of his other Instagram galleries @CROWNROCK1196 under the hashtags #HORIZONTALPEEKS, #SECRETSABOUTBRIDGES, #CROWNROCKCANDIDS and #CROWNROCKBIKES

Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
https://www.owlibrary.org/on-exhibit.aspx

Move Your Mind, Move Your Body with Nancy Schuler
Tuesdays in April:1, 22, 29 From 10:15 – 11:00 AM*
No class April 8 & 15

Registration is required for In-Person
Zoom Participants NOT required to register

Note: This Class is designed for senior women.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021 to 2030 The Decade For Healthy Ageing. The OWL has always been committed to expanding minds and now we would like to help our community expand their physical strength.

Join Nancy Schuler in this exercise class for senior women. You can attend the class in person, or online in the privacy of your home. The class features stretching and exercises that can be done in a chair or standing, and lifting of 1 or 2 lb. weights. All exercises are gentle and easy to understand. Exercise has been proven to help one’s cognitive abilities, blood pressure, insomnia, digestive issues, depression, strength and independence. The Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and Heart Associations all recommend exercise for healthy ageing.

No prior experience is necessary. Bring in a set of light weights for this class – 1 to 2 lbs.

Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
https://www.owlibrary.org/adult-events.aspx#anchor_move

Join hosts David Ruchman and Jeremy Boviard for a fun night of Movie Trivia. Free to play. Teams can be solo or up to 4 people. Prizes will be awarded. Trivia occurs on the last Tuesday of every month unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, March 25th at 7PM

The Moviehouse
48 Main Street
Millerton, NY 12546
https://www.themoviehouse.net/

The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to welcome back NY Times bestselling author and perennial fan favorite Marie Bostwick who will be signing copies of her new book “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” on Saturday, May 10th at 3 pm.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Margaret Ryan never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution in her buttoned-up suburb. By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman’s dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia–one of Northern Virginia’s most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman’s Place–a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn’t that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia’s newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte’s orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women–Bitsy and Viv–to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they’d been sold isn’t all roses and sunshine–and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments–and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

“The Book Club for Troublesome Women” is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year–as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When not curled up with a good book, Marie Bostwick can usually be found in her office, trying to write one. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen uplifting works of historical and contemporary fiction, Marie’s books are beloved by readers across the globe.

Drawing on her lifelong love of quilting and her unshakable belief in the power of sisterhood, Marie’s popular Cobbled Court Quilt series has been embraced by quilters and non-sewers alike. Her standalone books have also found a passionate following among lovers of women’s fiction. Marie’s novel, “The Second Sister” was adapted into the 2018 Hallmark Hall of Fame feature film “Christmas Everlasting”, starring Patti LaBelle. Marie’s novel, “Hope on the Inside”, was published in March 2019 and was chosen as a Reader’s Digest “Select Editions” book. Marie’s books have been published in fourteen different languages.

Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“This is a novel about ambitious women and the mentors that inspired them to excellence . . . Bostwick carves an unforgettable path for her characters.”–Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

“In The Book Club for Troublesome Women, the talented Marie Bostwick says this, ‘Acquaintances abound, but true friendships are rare and worth waiting for, ‘ capturing the essence, and the heart, of this story. If you love stories about friendships, strong women, the 60s, and the power of the written word, this is the book for you.”–Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, author of Every Moment Since

“Bostwick’s latest is ideal for fans of historical fiction and those who enjoyed Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry, Kristin Hannah’s The Women, or Kate Quinn’s The Briar Club, which explore the historical roles of women and the challenges they faced within a society structured to define and limit their roles in and out of the home.’–Library Journal Starred Review

This event is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve signed copies of “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” 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/2025-05-10/marie-bostwick-book-signing

Featuring classical ballet highlights from Napoli
and Don Quixote. Also including new creations
by guest choreographers Thel Moore
and Brian Reeder.

March 19-21 at 6:30 pm
March 22 at 12:00 pm
Location – The Nutmeg Ballet
58 Main Street
Torrington, CT 06790
Cost $30
https://www.nutmegconservatory.org/spring-studio-series

Each month, the Happy Hour Piano Series offers an eclectic mix of musical genres, showcasing the region’s wealth of talented pianists. Held on the fourth Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm, the piano series extends AMP’s exhibit hours. A cash/credit bar offers wine, craft and domestic beer, and assorted beverages.

Jazz pianist, composer, author, and educator Noah Baerman has written the book on jazz piano—literally. He’s the author of 9 books on the subject. Noah has also released 10 albums and has appeared on the weekly radio show Piano Jazz on NPR. His personal struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) have given his music a distinctive depth and edge. Themes of overcoming and transcendence are palpable in his playing. His musical collaborators include Wayne Escoffery, Nadje Noordhuis, Linda May Han Oh, Ike Sturm, Jimmy Greene, Robin Eubanks, and Warren Smith.

Admission: $8 at the door
The piano series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.

American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted CT 06098
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/happy-hour-piano-series-noah-baerman-tickets-1242380095309?aff=oddtdtcreator

Each month, the Happy Hour Piano Series offers an eclectic mix of musical genres, showcasing the region’s wealth of talented pianists. Held on the fourth Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm, the piano series extends AMP’s exhibit hours. A cash/credit bar offers wine, craft and domestic beer, and assorted beverages.

Michael Ford’s music blends elements of classical, jazz, experimental, and soundtrack into a genre he calls “third stream.” His compositions are graceful and complex, while his improvisations are raw and heartfelt, creating an experience that deeply resonates with listeners. Over his career, Michael has produced music for television, theater, and dance and released four albums, including Dream of the Wind and Simple Truth, both nominated for best contemporary classical album by the Independent Music Awards. Michael has also collaborated with the late Grammy-winning cellist David Darling.

You may also recognize Michael’s work with beloved author and illustrator Sandra Boynton. They’ve co-created six children’s book/CDs, including the platinum-certified Philadelphia Chickens. With his versatile talent and artistic vision, Michael Ford continues to establish himself as a world-class pianist and composer.

Admission: $8 at the door
The piano series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.

American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted CT 06098
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/happy-hour-piano-series-michael-ford-tickets-1242401298729?aff=oddtdtcreator

Each month, the Happy Hour Piano Series offers an eclectic mix of musical genres, showcasing the region’s wealth of talented pianists. Held on the fourth Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm, the piano series extends AMP’s exhibit hours. A cash/credit bar offers wine, craft and domestic beer, and assorted beverages.

Jennifer Hill is a singer-songwriter and pianist whose music blends the soulful influences of Carole King, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin with the modern edge of artists like Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. Jennifer’s latest solo album, Love Bomb, is a vibrant mix of retro soul and pop produced by the legendary Vic Steffens. Beyond her solo work, Jennifer is the creative force behind the electro-pop act Murderous Chanteuse and the indie rock band Jennifer Hill and Co., both available on streaming platforms. In addition, Jennifer is the founder of SWAN Day CT, the annual Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) event that showcases women in the arts, and has shared the stage with June Millington of the legendary 1970s band Fanny.

Admission: $8 at the door
The piano series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.

American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted CT 06098
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/happy-hour-piano-series-jennifer-hill-tickets-1242414127099?aff=oddtdtcreator