Living Well in Litchfield County, Connecticut

A Couple’s Valentine Cooking Class w/ Chef Carlos Perez Mon. Feb. 10 @ 6:30pm
Love isn’t just in the air—it’s on the plate, and Chef Carlos Perez is here to prove it with an unforgettable culinary adventure. This isn’t your typical date night; it’s indulgence elevated, a celebration of flavor, craft, and connection. Carlos, a maestro in the art of decadent dining, will guide you through a four-course masterpiece that’s as romantic as it is delicious.

Start with the Primadonna Salad, where crisp greens, aged gouda, and candied almonds come together in a harmony that’s both bold and refined. Then, prepare to dazzle your palate with the main event—a tender Petite Filet Mignon bathed in a luxurious Lobster Cream Sauce that redefines the meaning of “surf and turf.” Each bite is a love letter to your taste buds, carefully crafted under Carlos’s watchful eye. And just when you think it can’t possibly get better, dessert arrives. Crack into the caramelized perfection of a Strawberry Crème Brûlée, where tart berries meet velvety sweetness in a finale that’s pure bliss.

Come ready to cook, laugh, and maybe fall a little deeper in love—with your partner, the food, or the joy of creating something extraordinary together. Chef Carlos is here to make sure this date night is one for the books.

The Silo Cooking School
44 Upland Road
New Milford CT 06776

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

Kerri Powers is back for Between the Stacks! Saturday, March 22, 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 6:30)
Singer-songwriter Kerri Powers channels blues and soul with an eye-to-eye, earthy sensibility that makes for honest listening and reflection. She’s your sage girlfriend speaking from the heart and does so with a new collection of songs written from a place of grief and longing – something that speaks to us all. With ‘Love is Why,’ Powers’ first self-penned full-length album since 2018 to be released on October 27th, the New England-based artist explores the universal emotion of love and its huge influence on our decisions. In particular, she examines love in the context of holding on or letting go through human loss and grieving. The album’s original songs were written during the pandemic and after Powers lost her father, whom she calls “my best friend”.
“I wrote the songs from a place of loss and grieving and went from there,” she says. “Writing the songs was hard but a necessary part of healing. At the end of the day, all the songs were written from a place of love for humanity and the need to spread the message that love is essential.”
Love is Why was recorded in February 2021 at Dagotown Recorders in Boston. Produced by drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Norah Jones) and engineered by Sam Margolis. The album includes musical luminaries Bo Ramsey, slide guitar; Luther Dickinson, slide guitar; Kelvin Holly, electric guitar; Doug Lancio, electric guitar; John Putnam, electric guitar; Regina and Anne McCrary, background vocals; Brother Paul Brown, Hammond/keyboard, Marty Ballou, bass; Charles Giordano, accordion; Asa Brosius, pedal steel; and singer-songwriter Paul Thorn on duet vocals during a transcendent cover of Gregg Allman’s “Please Call Home.”

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