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

Reimagined Flavors of North Africa w/ Chef Billy Ross – Feb. 06, 2025 at 6:30pm
Step into a world of bold spices, vibrant ingredients, and culinary innovation with Chef Billy Ross’s upcoming hands-on cooking class, “Reimagined Flavors of North Africa.” This isn’t just a cooking class—it’s an exploration of one of the most exciting and aromatic cuisines in the world, infused with Chef Ross’s signature creative flair.

Under Chef Billy’s expert guidance, you’ll craft a show-stopping menu that redefines North African flavors. The centerpiece? A succulent Pan Seared Duck Breast paired with fragrant Moroccan Cous Cous, teeming with bright, citrusy notes of preserved lemon, warm hints of Aleppo pepper, and the subtle sweetness of golden raisins. It’s finished with a tangy and spicy Harissa Cherry Gastrique and a luscious dollop of Lemon Saffron Yogurt—a dish designed to electrify the senses.

For dessert, you’ll master the art of balance with the stunning Blood Orange Hamza, a sweet and zesty creation that showcases the vibrant, sun-drenched flavors of the region.

This hands-on class is perfect for food lovers eager to explore the intricacies of North African cuisine while learning techniques that bring excitement and depth to any dish. Whether you’re inspired by exotic tastes or just looking to expand your skills, this class promises an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Join Chef Billy Ross and experience the magic of reinventing tradition while creating flavors that are as bold and unforgettable as the cuisine itself. Are you ready to reimagine your kitchen? Reserve your seat today!

The Silo Cooking School
44 Upland Road
New Milford CT 06776

Step into the kitchen with Chef Bill Cosgrove, a master pizzaiola with over 40 years of passion kneaded into every dough. This class? It’s not your average pizza night. You’ll wrangle dough, roll, shape, top, and bake thin-crust perfection and herb-kissed focaccia that’ll make your taste buds sing. Whether it’s grilling or working your magic on a stone, Chef Bill’s got you covered. And those toppings? Expect creativity that’ll leave plain ol’ pepperoni feeling downright ashamed. Grab your apron—this hands-on class will leave you flipping dough like a pro.

The Silo Cooking School
44 Upland Road
New Milford CT 06776

http://wwww.thesilo.org

The passion for traditional Greek baking has been handed down to Baker Chistalla for as many generations as you can count. Thousands of years of culinary expertise are the subject of this sweet visit to the sun kissed lands of Greece and Cyprus. Come and learn how you can bring this goodness into your kitchen!

Embark on a delicious journey with our ‘Bake Like a Greek’ baking class, where the timeless art of Greek baking meets the modern kitchen. Under the expert guidance of Baker Christalla, whose passion for traditional Greek delights has been lovingly passed down through countless generations, you’ll explore the rich culinary tapestry of Greece and Cyprus.

Indulge in crafting Baklava, a decadent pastry layered with filo, nuts, and a touch of honeyed sweetness that promises a taste of heaven. Delight in the aromatic Portokalopita, a moist and fragrant orange cake that captures the essence of sun-drenched citrus groves. And master the delicate Kourabiethes, buttery almond cookies kissed with powdered sugar, perfect for any celebration.

Dive into thousands of years of baking expertise and uncover the secrets that make these sun-kissed treats so irresistible. Discover how to infuse your kitchen with the authentic flavors and warmth of Greek tradition. Join us for an unforgettable experience, where every recipe tells a story and every dish is a celebration of heritage. Come and bake like a true Greek, bringing a slice of the Mediterranean sunshine into your home!

The Silo Cooking School
44 Upland Road
New Milford CT 06776

The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to welcome author and playwright Tom Dulack who will be here signing copies of his new memoir “Miserere” on Saturday, February 8th at 3 pm.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This memoir tells of one of the most decisive intellectual and cultural influences of Tom Dulack’s early development as a future writer and playwright. It is written in the context of post WW II, shows the devastating effects of the war on a soldier priest and parallels the story of writers who bore witness to the tragedy of war, among whom are Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Mann, Ezra Pound and T. S. Elliot.

In the 1990s, as allegations of abuse by priests spread, Tom Dulack, an award-winning author, reflects on his childhood at Sacred Heart in Whiting, Indiana, and his time with Monsignor George J. Moorman. To Dulack, Father Moorman was simply a priest with a beautiful voice who disliked the nuns. Even though he was aware of Moorman’s conduct with altar boys, Dulack realized later that this priest played a much more important role in his life than he could have ever imagined. On a quest for answers, Dulack uncovers a surprising legacy of scholarship and influence, forcing him to reconcile Father Moorman’s complex impact on his past.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Dulack is a novelist and award-winning playwright, known for his compelling storytelling across both fiction and theater. His notable works include the novels The Stigmata of Dr Constantine, In Love with Shakespeare, and The Misanthropes.

As a playwright, Dulack has penned several acclaimed plays – Incommunicado won The Kennedy Center Award for New American Plays, Friends Like These won the Kaufman and Hart Prize for New American Comedy. Another play, Breaking Legs, had a long New York run and an extensive national tour and has been performed in countries and in languages all over the world. It has been a comic staple in regional theatres for the past 20 plus years. He also wrote Diminished Capacity, and Solomon’s Child among others on and off Broadway.

In addition to writing the libretti and directing two operas, Dulack was also the writer and director of more than forty Young People’s Concerts for the New York Philharmonic from 2005-2016. His work in this area has also been presented at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and with the Cleveland Orchestra.

He is Professor Emeritus of English at The University of Connecticut where he taught drama, Shakespeare and creative writing courses.

Born and raised in the Midwest, he now lives in rural Connecticut with his wife, the Belgian art historian, Veronique Sintobin.

This event is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve signed copies of “Miserere” 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/2025-02-08/tom-dulack-book-signing

Adults & Teens Valentine’s Craft Night
Tuesday, February 11
​7:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of creative Valentine’s fun!

Beekley Community Library
10 Central Avenue
New Hartford, CT 06057

https://www.beekleylibrary.org/teens.html

Friday, February 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Grades 6-12

Want to learn how to knit? Come to the Beekley and learn some beginning stitches! Needles, yarn, and snacks provided.

Beekley Community Library
10 Central Avenue
New Hartford, CT 06057

https://www.beekleylibrary.org/teens.html

Chris Staples performs at Between the Stacks! Saturday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 6:30)
“Chris Staples is a gifted storyteller who reveals life’s greatest mysteries in humanity’s smallest moments.” – NPR’s All Songs Considered.
Cloud Souvenirs is the sixth full length album by American songwriter Chris Staples, ten songs spun from accumulated memory and flashes of insight into the hidden corners of life. Recorded in the midst of travel back and forth to Florida to deal with his mother’s declining health, Staples built an unselfconscious masterpiece, a cathartic and complete expression of his craft. Cloud Souvenirs is a parade of sculpted moments, some light and airy, some gray and heavy with rain– variations on beauty, tenderness, grief and unexpected joy.
What is gone is all still here. Florida is a place steeped in memories and significance for Staples, landscape, humidity, shapes in the sky, intangible tokens of youth. He worked on the album intermittently during these visits, but had to cancel recording sessions to take his mother to the hospital. Her ever present piano playing around the house was a key to finding music. Her loss is a reality impossible to express.
Cloud Souvenirs is laced with insistent phrases and melody lines that linger long after listening. Songs that hint at narrative without being weighed down by unnecessary detail. Evocative and economical, melancholic and magical. Songs that nourish life and encourage self-reflection. Pulsing electronica, acoustic strummers, synth stabs, dry snare drums setting the pace, clear melodies fill the sky, no rain for days.
Staples is more pop artist than an indie singer, a poet and craftsman working in an independent tradition and at a human scale. A twelve-string guitar or warbling effect pedal, a buoyant brass arrangement, a passage of vocal harmony–this pleasing sonic tapestry is anchored by his warm voice and naturalistic lyricism. Staples enlisted a hometown friend, producer Jeremy SH Griffith, to bring a fresh perspective to ten years of self-recording, their easy collaboration shines on each crisp and devastating track.

Beekley Community Library
10 Central Avenue
New Hartford, CT 06057

https://www.beekleylibrary.org/concerts.html

Kenny White! Saturday, February 22, 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 6:30)
Between the Stacks at the Beekley Library welcomes back Kenny White!
KENNY WHITE comes to the world of the touring singer-songwriter following a long and successful musical journey. An accomplished pianist, who also performs on guitar, Kenny has now become more known for his clever lyrics. LONG LIST OF PRIORS, his aptly named current album, is the latest collection of original songs: snapshots of the human condition. Audiences often comment that a Kenny White concert moves them to laughter and tears — sometimes within the same song! “If Mark Twain could sing and play piano like a virtuoso, his name would be Kenny White.” –Stu Kuby, The Strand, Hudson Falls, NY. Kenny recently completed an 18-month tour performing his original songs while traveling as the opener for Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, and has toured for many years with Cheryl Wheeler. He is looking forward to returning to the road to perform his own full-length shows.

Beekley Community Library
10 Central Avenue
New Hartford, CT 06057

https://www.beekleylibrary.org/concerts.html

Live, Learn, and Lunch: Boppa Chua! A History of 50s and 60s through Popular Songs
* Pre-registration required for lunch
$5.00 Donation at Door

Marc Black, NY Blues Hall of Fame inductee, will be your guide for a trip through those memorable and colorful decades, joyfully woven together in song. This two person show is a multi-media and multi-dimensional presentation in song, storytelling and plenty of laughter. From bobby socks, through the space race, and on to civil rights and classic rock, audiences have found this show to be entertaining, inspirational and even a bit educational.

Litchfield Community Center
421 Bantam Road
Litchfield, CT 06759
860-567-8302
www.thecommunitycenter.org

https://thecommunitycenter.org/event.php?id=20640

Home Away From Homeschool: Adventures in Art History
February 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Each week, homeschoolers will focus on a different art movement and practice art fundamental skills such as color theory and perspective. Students of all ages will enjoy being artistic, social, and learning new skills!

Cost
$15.00 per Participant

Please contact Education and Tour Coordinator, Lillian Prescott to customize your homeschool experience at (203) 753-0381 x118 or at lillian@mattmuseum.org.

Mattatuck Museum
144 West Main Street
Waterbury, CT

https://www.mattmuseum.org/calendar/home-away-from-homeschool-adventures-in-art-history/