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

In the ’70s, Sherman Haight created Connecticut’s first winery on historic Chestnut Hill. Now, vintner Jacques Van der Vyver is making sublime wines for the Haight-Brown label in Litchfield: what a long cool trip it’s been.

When most people think of American wine regions, they think Napa, Sonoma, and maybe even Washington State. But did you know that some excellent wines are produced right here in Litchfield County? Our Northwest corner is home to about 10 wineries, and we had the pleasure of visiting one of them—Haight-Brown Vineyards in Litchfield.

On a recent cold Sunday afternoon, the tasting room at the Haight-Brown winery was buzzing with conversation and laughter. All of the bars in the room were filled, and more guests were enjoying their glasses of wine at small tables situated near the warmth of the fireplace. The scene was casual and relaxed, and the wines were exquisite.

In 1975, Sherman Haight established Haight Vineyard Inc. as the first vineyard in Connecticut to successfully produce Chardonnay and Riesling. A year later, Sherman contracted an architect to build a large Tudor style winery on top of Chestnut Hill in Litchfield. Sherman petitioned the state to create legislation recognizing farm wineries in Connecticut and as a result, the structure and the surrounding vineyards became Haight Vineyard, the first vineyard to have an established winery in the state of Connecticut.

In 2007, Amy Senew and Courtney Brown purchased Haight Vineyards and promised to uphold the tradition Sherman Haight had begun. The winery was renamed Haight-Brown Vineyard to keep Sherman’s legacy. Not long ago, the winery hired a new winemaker, Jacques Van der Vyver, and it’s been going strong ever since.

Haight-Brown Vineyard owns and leases over twenty acres for its winery and vineyards. Its vines produce lots of different wine grapes, including Chardonnay, Chardonelle, Marechal Foch, Dechaunoc, Marquette, and Seyval Blanc. Its current growing capacity has the ability to produce yields upwards of thirty-five tons annually, or 3,000 cases. The wines produced at the winery are Chardonnay, Covertside White, Riesling, Railway White, Nouveau Foch, Picnic Red, Morning Harvest, Big Red, Apple Crannie, Strawberry Bliss, and an old New England tradition, Honey Nut Apple.

The apple juice used to make their Honey-Nut Apple comes from March Farms. They ferment it, and add sugar, honey, and cinnamon, which makes it a great dessert wine. It can even be heated up in a crock-pot. Their other apple brand, Apple Crannie, is made with apple wine and cranberry concentrate. It is a bit tarter as more acidity cuts through the sweetness. This is more of a summer wine.

Picnic Red is a low-alcohol, entry-level red. The fruit is picked riper which makes for a tasty, fruity wine—great for new wine drinkers and for making sangria. It’s best when served chilled.

Strawberry Bliss is an organic Riesling with a festive flavor that’s an ideal match for outings and picnics. Its alcohol content is lower than some of the other wines.

Railway White is a Sayval Blanc hybrid, sister of Sauvignon Blanc. The flavor is more green, a dark green like New Zealand wine. Railway White is served on the Thomaston train, a one-hour event. See their website for more information.

Easy-drinking Covertside is made with some of the same grapes as Railway White, but fermentation is stopped early to yield lighter notes: Perfect for new wine drinkers.

Haight-Brown Reisling is made in a dryer style and has a nice acidity to it. It is the winemaker’s favorite.

The Chardonnay is fermented in stainless-steel instead of oak, which makes it crisp and gives it a linear taste.

The blends that create Morning Harvest change every year. Made with darker fruit, this wine has a rich flavor with notes of plum, and hints of chocolate from the American oak it is aged in.

Big Red is a Sonoma-style cabernet. Higher in alcohol (15%), it is sophisticated, elegant and restrained. It is a little more sophisticated.

The Haight-Brown Vineyard sits on historic Chestnut Hill, just one mile east of Litchfield Center. The tasting room includes a custom built wine bar for conducting wine tastings guided by the knowledgeable and friendly staff. There is an upstairs patio and downstairs terrace for sipping wine on lazy summer days, and two stone fireplaces for lingering during chilly ones. There is also a picnic grove (for those who choose to bring their own food and purchase Haight-Brown wines), a cheese nook and retail area, as well as several private rooms for a more intimate tasting or private party affair.

The vineyard’s winemaker, Jacques van der Vyver, is from Cape Town. As a boy, he loved to go with his father to site meetings associated with the construction of some of South Africa’s top wineries. “I have fond memories of running between tanks and getting rides on the forklift at Flagstone Winery, in South Africa.” This boyhood fascination led Jacques to pursue degrees in viticulture and oenology (the study of vineyard management and winemaking respectively). Jacques completed his first vintage at Flagstone and went on to work at Tokara Estate; Boordy Vineyards in Baltimore, Maryland; Steenberg Vineyards, Joostenberg and Waterkloof Winery. Jacques often does cellar tours and occasionally hosts winemaker dinners, when he is not out in the vineyards tending to the grapes.

And how does a winemaker spend his days? From cellar management to trellis maintenance, it’s hands-on work. Things really get going in April—the start of the growing season—when Jacques and his staff will often work 12-hour days. It’s a very intense period in which weather plays a big role, plans can change at the last minute, and there is never-ending stress until the fruit is picked in October. Then it is time for the Harvest Festival, wine-tasting, and celebration.

Like Jacques, the owners of Haight-Brown have a passion for wine and want to make it accessible and understandable in layman’s terms: Visitors to the vineyard and wine lovers of all levels can learn about growing grapes and producing wine. Combining education with fun has made Haight-Brown a destination not only for tourists but also for locals who enjoy socializing at the winery.

Tastings of the entire wine portfolio are available whenever the winery is open. A basic wine tasting of the entire selection of wines is $9 and allows you to take a signature Haight-Brown Vineyard glass home with you. Wine and chocolate tastings, wine and cheese tastings and full tastings of wine, cheese and chocolates are also available at $12, $14 and $16 respectively. The winery offers three Chocolate Tastings: Salty almond chocolate with Covert (sweeter, darker wine); Peruvian dark chocolate is paired with Morning Harvest; and Big Red is paired with Aztec Spice dark chocolate (made with cayenne spice).

The Farm Shop sells gift items, gourmet food, and has a food-sampling center. The winery also offers personalized wine labels, which make a great gift.

Haight-Brown Vineyard participates in the Connecticut Wine Trail, where one can plan a visit to the state’s fine wineries. 

From January through March, the winery is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-6pm. Last tasting is 30 minute prior to closing.  In April, the winery is open Thursday through Sunday, 12-6pm. In May, it is open Wednesday through Sunday, 12-6pm. From June to October, the winery is open Monday to Sunday, 12-6pm. And in November and December, it is open Thursday to Sunday, 12-6pm. Store purchases may be made up until closing.

To order wines, email the manager, Carrie Du Pont-Roy, or call 860.567.4045. 

Wine Prices: Chardonnay   $16.98, Morning Harvest $19.98, Railway White  $14.98, Big Red $19.98, Covertside White $14.98, Honey Nut Apple $15.98, Riesling  $16.98, AppleCrannie $16.98, Picnic Red $15.98.  

Haight-Brown Vineyards, 29 Chestnut Hill Road in Litchfield. 860-567-4045 or www.haightvineyard@aol.com www.haightvineyards.com

Tired of snow? Time to heat things up with a little shopping. Here are a few of our favorite things:

A new way to dish

Take a tactile approach to practical with these dishes by Fortunata—they have fabulous texture, yet are surprisingly smooth to the touch. Handcrafted in Tuscany with local clay, custom glazes, and a unique firing technique, the collection of different-sized bowls and platters has a distinctive look plus durability. Dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe, each organic shape comes in four cool hues: seafoam, oyster (shown above), celery, and bianco. Small bowls are $25 each, shallow bowl is $65. Available at Terston in Kent.

Terston Home Accents and Apparel
27 North Main Street
Kent
860.927.1255
www.terston.com

AUSTER scarf

This fabulous scarf is by Hartford, an insider French label that mixes vintage European styles with a more relaxed American aesthetic. The label has a cult following for its easy-to-wear pieces and accessories, which are perfect for dressing down stylishly. Made in Italy of mostly linen and cotton, and a bit of viscose, it feels lightweight and airy. The Auster scarf has thin black and grey stripes and a small fringe. Check out other Hartford scarves in different colors and designs. The purchase price is $78. Available at J. Seitz in New Preston.

J. Seitz & Co.
9 East Shore Road
New Preston
860.868.0119
www.jseitz.com

light touch

Imogen re-invents the candelabra in handpainted recycled materials. Made by hand in Mexico and finished in the USA with low VOC paints, this whimsical design comes in white, light or dark grey, or technicolor options—including orange, turquoise, magenta, blue, and 3 shades of green. The store has white and grey in stock, but you can special order the other colors, which takes about 4 weeks. The dimensions are 21″high x 24″diameter and the purchase price is $360. Available at Oliphant in Litchfield.

Oliphant Design
29 West Street
Litchfield
860.567.8199
www.oliphantdesign.com

smart satchel

Is it the size, the shape, or the color? Whatever it is, this little handbag has star-power, attracting attention wherever it goes. It comes in a range of bright colors, and it has a zippered enclosure at the top, with a compartment in the middle and a pocket for your smart phone, too. Made of leather, it is sturdy and holds more than you think. Available at Hayseed in Litchfield.

Hayseed on the Green
3 West Street
Litchfield
860.567.8775 

With generations of artists and community thinkers
before them, Barbara and Peter Talbot carry on the legacy,
with a keen eye on what comes next.
By Nanette Maxim

Architect Peter Talbot and his wife, singer-songwriter and arts professional Barbara Hyde Talbot, are in the entryway of Bell Hill House, in Washington, and Peter is pointing out a collapsible copper lantern, lit by a candle and covered in cotton fabric, that was given to him on a recent trip to Kenya. “Isn’t this a cool candle?” Peter asks. And, yes, it is a cool candle, but like most of the art, objects, and even exotic plants in Bell Hill House (family home to generations of artistic Talbots), it’s the story behind it that’s as interesting as the object itself. Take the lantern: Peter Talbot was in Kenya as a consulting architect with The Cornerstone Project, a nonprofit that provides education for children orphaned by AIDS, and which is currently building the Nambale Magnet School to serve 200 kids. “We’re trying to make the school environmentally and economically sound. One of the ways is by designing septic systems—biodigesters—that can turn the resulting methane gas into fuel for cooking. No firewood needed.”

Here in the Litchfield Hills, though, on a subzero January day, wood fires crackle in Bell Hill House’s living room and in the lush greenhouse, where, among the tropical plants, grapefruit dangle from a tree that Peter’s father, sculptor William H. M. Talbot, planted from the seeds of his breakfast grapefruit back in the 1940s. From the blooming camellia trees, Peter snips a delicate flower each week to bring to the office (“just like Coco Chanel, who had camellias delivered to her office every day”). William and his wife, Joan Sangree Talbot, a photographer and musician who played the viola da gamba in an early-music ensemble and was a singer in the St. John’s Chorale, had lovingly built the greenhouse from scratch, when they converted the former horse barn into a home for themselves and their four children in 1952. Joan, who for decades invited fellow gardeners to join her in her green spaces, continued to climb out on a catwalk suspended from the ceiling of the greenhouse to prune the trees into her eighties, much to her son and daughter-in-law’s chagrin.

“When I came to this house for the first time, in 1984,” says the Canadian-born Barbara, referring to the first visit she made to Bell Hill from New York City with a friend, “it was like I’d stepped back in time 20 years. I was smitten.” The 1950s and 60s had, in fact, been a sort of heyday for the house, when William Talbot, the Prix de Rome winner whose work was collected by the likes of the Whitney Museum, would fire up his arc welder and light up the night sky from his upstairs studio as he sculpted pieces like the enormous 12-foot concrete, stained-glass, and steel tower with built-in flashing lights and a kind of Afro-pop soundtrack that still stands tall in the studio today. “Then, of course, I met Peter,” she says, “and I was smitten again.”

We always had a houseful,” says Peter. And Bell Hill House, having once been a working barn, with bedrooms William and Joan created from former horse stalls, supplied plenty of room. There were William’s interns, of course. But his parents also put on French Film Nights, Peter says, when artists and writers from the surrounding area would drop by to watch, say, a Godard picture projected on the wall, or the senior Talbots would erect a  Bedoin-style tent in the studio and throw a dinner party for their friends.

Some of those friends might include artists Yves Tanguy; Alexander Calder and his wife, Louisa, who had a place in Roxbury; or inventor Buckminster Fuller (who had been at Harvard with Peter’s grandfather). And then there were literary lions like Norman Mailer, Arthur Miller, and Bill Styron. The community drew some of the best and the brightest, and made Washington’s reputation as their retreat from the world.

The free spirit of Bell Hill House—where Joan’s fellow musicians would gather to play, and where wildlife-lover William rescued owls that he then let fly among the trees in the greenhouse—lives on with Peter and Barbara. At Bell Hill, where Peter himself once had his architecture office, the couple have hosted a houseful of Momix dancers, and a regular gathering of the Wykeham Consort, as well as plein air painters, and families who simply are in need of some good old Litchfield Hills country air (the Talbots rent the house through vrbo.com, homeaway.com, and boutique-homes.com).

But that spirit is more than simply gathering friends and keeping the family home alive and thriving. (Peter and Barbara live not far away on the rambling property, in a light-filled, modern masterpiece of understatement that Peter designed and that includes a ceiling designed with fiber optics to re-create the night sky and a wall inspired by the harp of a piano, a nod to pianist Barbara. In turn, Barbara’s handmade Scandinavian-inspired pendant lamps, and her amorphous multimedia installations that use moving images, acetate, and the flow of water, seem constructed with a great sense of play.) The spirit passed on by the senior Talbots to the following generations is one of community, of building something that respects the past while gracefully advancing toward the future.

Peter (who once chaired the Building Commission) is now vice president and Barbara chair of the nominating committee of the Washington Arts Association (WAA), which was launched in 1952, with William Talbot and Joan Sangree as two of the founding members. In a photo of the WAA founders from the early days, standing behind the mostly elderly blue-haired members is Peter’s dad, in his early thirties, all six-foot-six and 240 pounds of him. Joan was part of the WAA administration for 40 years, as secretary and member of the board of directors.  “The association is having a renaissance,” says Barbara, who is committed to the educational programs the association is growing. “Membership is way up, and we’re getting a lot of younger members. We’re developing a youth program, which is vital. And the trustees are new and energetic.” One of the projects underway, she says, is a cookbook, edited by designer Linda Allard and Susan Purdy (author of Perfect Pie and Let Them Eat Cake) to which 93 WAA members have contributed their favorite recipes and original artwork.

Public design has always been a part of Peter Talbot’s environmentally sustainable practice, since his days with Manhattan firm Polshek Partners. It includes not only a school half a world away but the restaurant Community Table, just down the road, with its shades of Scandinavia and its New England warmth. Now there’s a community project that lights up the couple’s eyes—One Green Hill Circle, in the heart of the Depot. Peter, who also spent 17 years on the Washington Historic District Commission, and whose architecture practice, Peter Talbot Architects, has a home in the village’s rejuvenated Woodruff’s Garage, set his sites, and those of fellow preservation-minded locals to purchase, rehab, and repurpose the long-vacant Texaco station just a stone’s throw from the town hall. The newly formed nonprofit Washington Park Foundation envisions, says Peter, “a flexible space for community gatherings, art and school exhibits, information on the area, and opportunities for indie entrepreneurs and small businesses to sell their products (plants and flowers, food, jewelry, art and more) as well as programs from nonprofits such as the Institute for American Indian Studies. And the foundation hopes to build a pocket park for people to enjoy.” (You can find out more at washingtonparkfoundation.org, a website that Barbara designed for the group.) So far, the foundation [other members include Michael Ackerman, Barbara Boyea, John Millington, and Denise Trevenen] has purchased the building, but no definitive plan has been approved by the town to move forward. “I don’t think there’s a precedent in Washington for what we’re doing here,” Peter says. “But people across the country are thinking about how you protect open space and at the same time not minimize or diminish the ability for people to live and have a viable life.

In pursuit of learning more about what inventive architects and planners across the country are thinking, Peter recently completed a master’s course with the Regenesis Group, a New Mexico–based organization that promotes sustainable development with a deep understanding of a site’s history. “It’s difficult to articulate the idea of regenesis,” Peter says, “but when there’s a history behind a place and there are natural forces acting on it, you combine them to come up with a rational way of proceeding that helps the greater whole. Rather than looking at a  project as something unto itself,  it means looking at it as part of a system.”

This past September, the show “Just Talbots: Three Generations of Artistic Achievement,” at Washington’s Behnke-Doherty Gallery, featured the work of William H.M. Talbot (sculpture), Joan Sangree (photographs), Peter (architectural models), Barbara, and their son, Will (both mixed media), as well as Peter’s siblings Augusta (painting and sculpture), Connie (ceramics), and John (wood sculpture). The thread that runs through them might not be immediately evident, but a closer look creates an incredibly diverse portrait of a family. And, as the Talbots have done for generations, that thread will be woven into lives that go far beyond the family tree.

Founder of the Global Peace Movement, Theresa Joseph is an intuitive healer and spiritual mentor with an energy healing practice in Litchfield.

Theresa Joseph used to work a 60-hour week in the foreign exchange trading room at IBM, where she was a banking relations manager. With a BA in Economics and an MBA in Banking and Finance, she had settled in comfortably at the Fortune 500 company for 18 years. But in 1996 she realized that she wanted to spend more time with her children, and decided to work part time, cutting back her work schedule to 30 hours a week (almost a typical work week for most folks). Shortly after, she was invited to take a yoga and Reiki (universal life force energy) class with friends. She was very skeptical and felt that energy healing was nonsense. She thought her friends had too much time on their hands. But she continued with the classes, and eventually she felt the energy. She enrolled in Reiki lessons (studying under Heather Cumming, a Reiki Master and Shaman), practiced on her colleagues who were foreign exchange traders; completed three levels of training; and became a Reiki Master. In 1998, she made it her life’s work—she left IBM to do it full time and opened a practice in Greenwich.

Born into a Catholic family, Theresa went to Catholic school until third grade when she moved into public school. Her family was not religious. Her parents would drop their four kids off at church and Sunday school, then return only to pick them up. All these years later, through her Reiki and meditations, Theresa began receiving messages from the Divine. As with her financial career where she was known for initiating paradigm shifts, Theresa shifted from practicing Reiki to what she calls channeling grace to more accurately reflect the Divine’s role in her healing work. By channeling grace, the freely given love of the Divine, she is empowering clients, whether in private sessions or in her healing circles, to know their own divinity and to develop a personal relationship with the Divine. She says that she is just the fascilitator, this Divine Love is already there for people. Now, through meditation and channeling, Theresa Joseph heals and enlightens those who are seeking a greater connection in life. “Channeled Grace is the acknowledgement that the universal life force energy is Divine Energy or Divine Love, which is healing.”

“People contact me for many reasons. They sometimes want to deepen their faith, have a more experiential relationship with God, heal an emotional or physical wound, or accelerate healing following surgery. Some are looking for more inner peace…the list is endless and as varied as my clients.”

A typical private Channeled Grace Healing Session begins with Theresa explaining what the client might feel or experience while she is working, which is a sense of inner peace or a glowing radiance as God’s grace flows through them. Theresa says, “It can be helpful for the client to share a bit about what they would like healed, however, that is not necessary because it is God’s grace that heals, not me. Miracles are God’s medicine and although I have seen many in this work, I do not claim them as my own.” In the session the client is laying down on a massage table, fully dressed, with eyes closed. Theresa stands at the head of the table, eyes closed as she connects with the Divine. It is almost identical to a Reiki session except that she is not typically moving around the client’s body. After the Channeled Grace Session is complete, Theresa spends time with her client to review any visions or messages that she may have gotten on their behalf.

Asked if she sometimes has clients who are a bit dubious, Theresa answers, “People do not have to believe in this for it to work. I love working with skeptics because even they are amazed at the transformative healing power of the grace that flows through them. I was a skeptic when I first started this work, so I completely identify with them.”

When asked how many sessions a person should expect to go through, Theresa explains that some people need only one session to heal while others may need several. There is no formula—it is very specific to the individual client.

She also holds group sessions or circles with her associate, Linda Fallo-Mitchell, who is also the director of the Global Peace Movement. There is no limit to how many people can participate in a group session. “The healing is still very powerful, however, the difference between a group and a private session is that I will not receive specific messages for each person in the group.”

One day, while meditating, Theresa received a message to paint. With no experience or training, she asked Ste. Therese de Lisieux for help, “Show me what to paint.” She began to create beautiful light-filled images in oil paint, that depicted her visions. This resulted in the “Starlight Series.” Now she is an artist and has sold many of her works. She takes commissions, guided in meditation by Ste. Therese de Lisieux for her recipients, and they are healed by the energy of their paintings.

A little over a year ago, Theresa received a message in the middle of the night from the Divine to sell her house in Greenwich and to go north and look in the middle of Connecticut. She was happy in her home and didn’t want to move, didn’t want to leave her friends behind, so she resisted. But the messages kept coming back. She struggled with it, but finally came around. She and her husband found a home on a farm in Litchfield and moved in. “The people here are so great, open and welcoming. And very interesting folks.”

In addition to her Channeled Grace practice, Theresa has a blog called Everyday Mystic, and runs The Global Peace Movement which was founded on the idea and science that by embodying the feeling or vibration of love, we can change the world. Studies have shown that there is power in numbers and the more people who embody the vibration of peace, the more quickly we will see a shift in global consciousness. There are satellites in space that measure electromagnetic fields. Fifteen minutes after  Princess Diana died, they recorded a huge spike, due to an enormous outpouring of love. A similar result occurred shortly after 9/11. Theresa says that we are told to lead by our brains, not our hearts, but she believes that the heart should lead, with the brain in lock-step behind the heart. Her mission is to raise consciousness, manifest peace and channel grace. A key aspect of her message is to convey how the Divine is available to everyone, not just a select group of mystics.

Some of the classes and workshops that Theresa teaches are: Chaneling Grace; 10 Steps to Inner Peace; The Redemption of the Divine Feminine; and Birthing a New World: Creating a Peaceful Life and a Peaceful World. As well, she trains aspiring Reiki practitioners.
In March, Theresa will be hosting Channeled Grace Healing Circles and Meditations for World Peace twice a month at Charym Yoga in Litchfield.
For more information, or for an appointment, contact Theresa Joseph at: tajo41@me.com.
Visit her website: www.GlobalPeaceMovementNow.com

Local resident Wendell Minor is a household name in the world of American illustration and children’s books, and now he has a terrific solo show at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

With his love for nature, and his interest in iconic American pastoral scenes, Wendell Minor couldn’t have chosen a better place to live than the Northwest Corner of Connecticut. He grew up in Illinois, later lived in New York City, and spent much time in the stunning landscape of New Mexico, but when it came time to settle down, Wendell and his wife, Florence, found their perfect home in the bucolic town of Washington. They were weekenders for about 11 years before finally moving here permanently in 1991. Even though Wendell spends most of his days drawing and painting in his artfully designed studio, he finds inspiration from the surrounding countryside—the beauty of the Litchfield Hills, Lake Waramaug, and the Shepaug River.

In November of 2013, the award-winning illustrator of numerous books was honored with a solo show called Wendell Minor’s America at The Norman Rockwell Museum in Lenox, Massachusetts which continues through May 26, 2014. The exhibition covers his career for over forty years, and celebrates his twenty-fifth anniversary as the nation’s premier historical picture book illustrator. There are over 150 pieces on display and the show brings tremendous insight into the artist’s process, inspirational sources, and his collaborations over the years.

As a young child, Wendell had dyslexia and struggled with reading. He took special reading classes all through school. But through drawing and art, he found his calling. His mother was the director of the preschool and taught art to the children, so she was very supportive of Wendell’s interest in art. Wendell’s younger brother also had talent and became a composer and Jazz musician. Their father was a trained machinist and an avid outdoorsman and passed on his love of nature to Wendell. “I never took to hunting and fishing the way he did, but I realized later in life that my father gave me his gift of keen observation.” As a teen, Wendell was very involved in extra-curricular activities in school, such as the year book, the school newspaper, the theater. It was the arts that he responded to. And he had a good work ethic even back then. He worked at various jobs from delivering newspapers, working in a slaughter house, doing mechanical drawings, being a stock boy in a department store, cleaning machines at his father’s factory, to creating displays at the local Sears. He put himself through art college and graduated without any debt. His first job as an artist was working for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, then he went to a small agency in Aurora. From there he went to New York City and began illustrating book jackets at a premier design studio. Soon he was on his own, freelancing and beginning his career in children’s books.

“Falling into book publishing was the best gift of all,” Minor notes, “It opened an incredibly interesting road for me. I learned the process of discovery as I researched the subjects I was asked to draw.” This still applies today, for example, before starting a painting for a cover of a biography, Wendell reads not only the manuscript of the book he is illustrating, but all of the existing biographies of the person in order to fully understand who that person is. “It’s never boring, never dull.” Not bad for a boy who  started off with such difficulty reading. Wendell says, “Adversity is one of the best teachers.”

During his prolific career, he has also found time to teach–something he’s very good at as well. He taught illustration, painting, and typography at the School of Visual Arts in NYC for 11 years, and has lectured all over the country to both children and adults. Wendell loves to teach. “If I can communicate to a kid to go see a Hopper in a museum, it’s worth it.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough, who has collaborated with the artist on such books as 1776, John Adams, and Truman, made this remark during the exhibition opening, “Besides being a supremely gifted artist and natural storyteller, Wendell Minor is a very great teacher—which is another reason why his work is of such value.”

Wendell’s wife, Florence, is also extremely talented in the arts. She has a degree in Sociology, went to NYU Film School, worked as a film editor in television, and has a Public Relations background. She worked for years on the television show 20/20 at ABC in Manhattan. She collaborates with Wendell on many books and is a very good writer. She also handles some of the organizational responsibilities in their studio. Together, they are a powerhouse of creativity and productivity.

It was a quantam leap for Wendell and Florence to move out to the country. “We loved the city. We were both nervous about moving here,” Wendell remarks. “But we fell in love with this area and we didn’t want to let it go.” With the advent of technology such as the arrival of FED-EX to the area, and email service was just starting up, they decided to make the change from Greenwich Village to the “village atmosphere” in the country. They found that there was a strong connection between New York City and Washington – a strong artistic and philanthropic community with intellectual scope. After all, the best of the best laid the ground work for our community–Calder, Mailer, Miller, etc. “In Washington, you have the freedom to be who you want to be, without any judgment. After we have travelled, it’s always good to be back home.”

In their beautifully designed studio, they put in long hours, but they still find time to enjoy the area. They love to take a walk at the River Walk, down by the school in the Depot, and they can be found enjoying the landscape at Steep Rock, the Macricostas Preserve, Hidden Valley, and White Memorial. Florence likes to kayak at Lake Waramaug. “We are so lucky to live where we live in terms of land preservation. We are blessed to have so much open land,” Wendell says.

They also frequent many local businesses in the area. Wendell likes having coffee and a muffin at Nine Main in New Preston and Florence likes Upper Crust Pizza in New Milford. They enjoy Bantam Cinema, the GW Tavern, Oliva’s, The Pantry, The Village, and Zini’s Restaurant in Bantam. And of course, the Hickory Stick Bookshop, where all of his books are sold. Wendell has been buying his cars from the Volkswagon dealership on Route 202 in New Milford for 30 years now. Not only do the Minors patronize local businesses, they are also very involved in the community. Wendell is a former board member of SteepRock, they do school visits, donate books and prints to help raise funds locally, and have a long relationship with the Gunn Library and Museum. Wendell designed their logo, as well as the logo for SteepRock.

For his paintings, Wendell often finds inspiration and references from the landscape in the area. Below are a few examples of local scenes that were used in some of his book covers and interior pages.

The exhibition Wendell Minor’s America at The Norman Rockwell Museum in Lenox, Massachusetts continues through May 26, 2014. For more information go to: http://www.nrm.org/2012/11/wendell-minors-america-3/

For more on Wendell Minor, go to: http://www.minorart.com/

A fitting way to begin the new year, we spoke with Lisa Hedley, a longtime Washington resident and certified Holistic Health Practitioner, on wellness, her new blog, Lah Life, and more.
BY SARAH PARKER YOUNG

You have recently created a luxury wellness blog, Lah Life – what inspired you to start this venture?

The tag line is be well, savor the ride. I am inspired to help people find ways to do this for real! Leonard Cohen famously said, “the cracks are where the light gets in” and I love the idea that I can help people appreciate the cracks in themselves and let the light in, which to me means feeling more contentment. By ‘savor the ride’ I mean two things: savor each moment when you do feel great and live life. Don’t be a pleasure hater and do not deprive yourself of joys both simple and complex wherever you find them – art, books, food, the products you use, etc. For years, since selling the Mayflower Spa, I have been studying ayurvedic medicine, nutrition, and psychology, and filling up my toolbox with ways to live a healthier more balanced modern life. The blog seemed like the perfect way to share the knowledge, spread the wisdom and inspire people to live better, have more joy, spread the fun to others around them! It can be contagious, this feeling good, living well.

What are the basic tenets of Ayurveda and how would you describe these to someone not versed in this ancient Indian healing arts science?

This is the surprisingly simple science of living well for yourself. Ayurveda is a framework that invites you to understand your own metabolic constitution and learn about ways to nurture, protect and transform yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and even, dare I say, spiritually. I always ask private wellness counseling clients to think about how they want to see themselves in the world. Again, I mean this mentally, emotionally and physically. Then we look at where they are and work to match up the two realities through diet, life-style and stress management practices.

On your blog, Lah Life, you have very practical tools for people to experience Ayurveda in their lives. The ‘Five Daily Practices’ you outline seem an effective introduction, can you explain the importance of these practices?

I see these daily practices as an essential daily dose of self care. As with all things Ayurvedic the benefits are more than one thing. Performing these simple practices are not only beneficial therapeutically in of themselves, but taken together they become a profound way to get in touch with your self and build awareness about what you need to feel good and therefore live well.

On your weekly NPR show, you discuss ways to alleviate stress and bring more balance to life. What is your favorite quick meditation for people who are new to the practice?

Simple breathing exercises that bring stillness. Paying attention to the breath: the temperature, the way it flows in and out deep and deeper in to the lungs is a great way to feel centered, rooted calm and get more oxygen flowing to all systems of the body which ultimately means more clarity and better functionality. 30 seconds to start. Every day for a week. Then you can add on until you are sitting for up to 20 minutes. It is surprising how you can build into a practice!

Lah Shop, the virtual store within the blog , features in your words, “an exquisite array of lotions, potions, books, furnishings and products from around the world.” Is there a common theme in the products you choose to recommend?

Every product is clean, healthful and has a sense of luxury and craftsmanship. These are objects and products made with care and authenticity. These are all elements that  self care products should have. So from the coziest yoga nidra mat to the complexion conserve facial oil these are carefully made, organic, beneficial things I have used, recommend and love.

Since you are a resident of Litchfield County, I must ask what are your favorite places to eat, shop and visit?

I used to own the Bantam Cinema and I have a deep appreciation for its existence, so I have to say that is my favorite place to visit and get inspired. I have been going to The Pantry since it opened (too many years ago to want to say) and it has remained a quality go-to eatery for us. Privet House, and Pergola, and J. Seitz, and all the other shops of New Preston charm me every time I  go. The boardwalk in White Memorial’s woods is magical and I try to get there at least once a year, but then again there is nothing quite like the Pinnacle Walk in the fall or Steeprock by the river, mid-summer.

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day is to wake up naturally from a great night’s sleep. Stretch in bed, think about how I might want my day to go. Feed and walk my dogs, get my children organized and fed and then have a full hour of uninterrupted time to do my morning practices in a leisurely way, practice a little yoga asana, take time for a twenty minute meditation and some breathing practice. Then I am ready to do things I love like write for the blog, work with several clients, get some paper-work done (some drudge work makes you appreciate the fun stuff and feel accomplished), see or at least speak to a dear friend, walk the beach with my dogs, have a great family meal, read  to my daughter, read for myself, chat with my husband and go to sleep. Perfect.

What new developments do you see in your future for the Lah Life site?

I would like to see it develop into a crowd-sharing hub of information and experiences moderated by me but submitted by as many people who want to contribute! A kind of wiki answers for all things health and wellness, travel and arts. In terms of the blog, I hope to do more traveling and discovering of great products, therapies, and ideas to share.

You have some wonderful recipes and elixirs on the site, would you share one with our readers?

The Digestive Ginger Elixir and the Golden Milk would be my top picks for really therapeutic, easy to make, easy to take and great results.

Here are a few of Lisa’s simple guidelines for healthy eating in the New Year and a special recipe to get started:  

Relax, sit, eat and chew with awareness.

The process of eating, according to Ayurveda, is something sacred and integral to physical health

When we eat our whole focus should be on the taste, texture and smell of the food.

Digestive Ginger Elixir

1 cup fresh ginger juice:
Start with a 3-to 4-inch piece of fresh, unpeeled ginger. Cut it up into 1/2-inch pieces. Using a  juicer, make 1 cup.

1 cup fresh lemon juice:
Juice enough lemons to make 1 cup.

Combine the two juices together with 1 cup water, 3/4 cup raw organic honey, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

Whisk until blended and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Drink at room temperature about 20 minutes prior to your meal.

Lisa Hedley is well-known in the area as the co-founder of the award winning, five-star Mayflower Spa. As a long-time student of yoga practices and its literature including Sanskrit, Lisa is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, professional member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), a graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda as an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga Specialist, a Yoga Alliance certified yoga professional, and is a Master’s Degree candidate in Social Work from New York University. Hedley previously practiced law with a special interest in Medical Ethics and holds her Juris Doctorate from the New York University School of Law.

Currently, Lisa hosts a weekly regional NPR Radio show (WHDD 91.9FM), Strategies for Dealing with Stress, where she offers insights, tools and strategies for balancing the need for harmony with busy modern lives. The entire Hedley family is a creative powerhouse; husband Tom wrote the screenplay for the iconic film ‘Flashdance’ and her two sons have careers in the film and music industries. In 2003, Lisa Hedley was recognized for her filmmaking talents with her Emmy award nomination for her HBO documentary film “Dwarfs: Not a Fairy Tale.”

Lisa sees clients privately in Florida, Connecticut, and New York in addition to seeing patients at a clinic for traumatic brain injury and neurogenic conditions in New York City. Hedley divides her time between Manhattan, Florida and Washington, Connecticut with her husband and their four children.

You can visit Lisa’s site at: http://www.lahlife.com/
or the Lah Life shop at: http://shop.lahlife.com/

Terri Tibatt’s lovely handmade Japanese shades diffuse sunlight and fill spaces with a soft glow and natural beauty.

Terri Tibatts has a thing for the Japanese aesthetic. Years ago, she lived in Japan for six months, where she studied calligraphy and related book arts. She learned about handmade Japanese papers, and in visiting many homes, temples, and museums, she found that she was drawn to shoji screens. A traditional element in Japanese architecture for hundreds of years, shoji-translucent sliding screens serve as doors and windows. Made from Japanese papers, shoji diffuse sunlight. As light changes throughout the day, so does the light filtering through the paper, creating gentle patterns and soft shadows.

Inspired by her love of Japanese interiors and papers, Terri Tibatts, an accomplished artist, began making the shades for her home when her children were little. She and her family had just moved into their new house in Washington. Her husband, Franklin (Nic) Nichols owns Nichols Woodworking. Together, they built their house and his woodshop in 1988 and 89. Terri says, “I wanted a window treatment that was minimal and also let some light in. The Japanese papers looked beautiful and didn’t cover up our black cherry window trim. As a book binder, I wanted to use my skills to create useful objects for the home.”

When considering the style of your shades, there are quite a few types of papers to choose from. There are 10 styles of papers available. The series of Bright White papers include several that have “watermark” imprints of various types of trees including pine, maple leaves and bamboo. The Kozo Papers Series are all natural and are made from 100% Japanese mulberry (kozo) which gives them a soft and elegant tone. Since there is no wood pulp used in kozo, these papers will actually brighten as they age. The beauty of these papers is that they allow a diffused light to come into a room while at the same time providing privacy. “On sunny days, they help make a room feel cool; at night, they warm the atmosphere with a richness and elegance,” Terri adds. She can also customize the shades by adding stencils, custom calligraphy (such as a name or a favorite quotation), ribbon, stamps, etc. to make them unique and to compliment any decor.

Since that first trip, Terri has returned to Japan several times over the years. Here in the US, she has studied Japanese printmaking, bookmaking, and brushwork. Terri also uses the shoji papers to create books and other small objects. And she has made lamps and small lanterns out of shoji paper, as well.

Roller blinds are an easy, functional, and economical window treatment. They are clean and simple in their design, and because they are cordless there are no safety issues with children or pets. The roller mechanisms that are used are of high quality and made in the United States. They are heavy duty wooden spring rollers that are made from scratch to ensure a straight, perfectly round dowel.

Terri ‘s shoji shades can be ordered online and on Etsy. The price for the Bright White papers is $75 and the price for the Kozo papers is $90 (per shade including hardware with a 36″ maximum width). It generally takes about two weeks for an order to be complete, depending if the selected papers are in stock. Paper samples can be sent to clients before placing an order. Clients range from individuals who are decorating their homes, to yoga studios and commercial buildings.

To order your own custom shades, visit www.shojishades.com or www.shojiwood.com/territibbatts/
or contact Terri Tibatts: terri@shojishades.com

You can also visit Terri’s shop at Etsy and order your shades there: http://goo.gl/wo8kIS

A curated collection of luxury accessories by Lambertson Truex is being sold at Privet House in New Preston during the holiday season. BY Sarah Parker young

A pair of olive, opera length shearling gloves lay artfully over an exotic skin clutch in a light-filled annex within Privet House in New Preston. On November 16th, the opening of an exclusive sale of Lamberston Truex attracted New York fashion executives, A-list interior designers, a bestselling novelist and other county style-seekers. The preeminent luxury lifestyle blogger, Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence selected a deep chocolate satin clutch with a signature interlocking ‘L’ and ‘T’ snap closure and green hide camouflage gloves. Opulent alligator bags, rich Italian leather totes and metallic minaudieres share shelf space with wallets, belts and footwear. These accessories are the award-winning designers’ hand-selected favorites from each season over a fifteen-year period of work.

Before the opening, Richard Lambertson and John Truex, sat down at Privet House to talk about their vision and design philosophy. Richard, in his signature black framed glasses, sporting a chic orange cashmere scarf and John, fresh from the stables, in britches and fine equestrian boots, seem themselves, the epitome of sophisticated sensibility. Though the designers will switch out the vignettes displayed every two weeks, they spoke about the current look.

“Circa 2008 and 2009, we had leopard prints for the fall season. We treated them as a core color and not a novel print. What is more perfect with camel or black?” John Truex explains showing the exquisite craftsmanship of a large tote. Richard adds that, “Classic leopard prints are timeless. The handbags were designed to be carried for years to come.”

Lambertson Truex, formed in 1998 by Richard Lamberston and John Truex, developed a signature style which blended superior craftsmanship, design and exclusivity with a unique American aesthetic. In 2000, they were both awarded the CFDA Accessories Design of the Year and the ACE Award for Design Excellence. In 2009, Lambertson and Truex joined Tiffany as expert designers to help extend the iconic brand reach beyond jewelry. Throughout all this time, Richard explains, “Our customer has always been an independent woman who seeks those statement pieces that she can wear for years.”

Style icons from the film and television industries have had a true love affair with the luxury brand. The actresses seen wearing the accessories while out and about in NYC and LA, as well as on the red carpet, include: Debra Messing, Julianne Moore, Mary J. Blige, Cate Blanchett and Reese Witherspoon. Jennifer Lopez created a sensation when she sported an all-white ensemble with a Lambertson Truex white crocodile clutch at a premiere. Though friendly with many celebrities, both designers agree they get more satisfaction from seeing their accessories on a strong stylish woman on the street considering her vast array of choices.

Why now? This is the first time the designers’ personal archive, including both couture and ready-to-wear pieces, has been offered for sale. All these accessories were wrapped up in tissue paper and stored in plastic bags at their Sharon country home. “We wanted to set them free,” says John Truex with a smile, “we wanted to let the girls (i.e. luxury handbags) out for a chat.” Once one of these coveted accessories is sold off the shelves, it will be gone forever, so Lambertson Truex devotees have been coming from all over the Northeast. This new wave of women will share the story of these exquisite, rare accessories and bring them to life.

Why Privet House? “Privet House represents original ideas and designs. It has a unique point of view, mixing new with vintage. It is a perfect fit,” says Richard, co-owner of Privet House with fashion and antiques powerhouse, Suzanne Cassano. She adds, “Our clientele show the same spirit of adventure in choosing a one-of-a-kind exquisite boxcar handbag as they do in selecting European towels, antiques and prints that we find for the shop.” In every corner of Privet House are treasures—china from Paris, mirrored pillows from India, Italian room spray, first edition books, and now an annex filled with coveted Lambertson Truex designs.

Both Richard and John call Sharon home when in Litchfield County. Richard, as co-owner of Privet House, combines travels with shopping and seeking special products for the destination emporium. On a recent shopping trip to India, Richard fulfilled two special dreams; to visit the Taj Mahal and to ride an elephant in Jaipur. John is an avid equestrian with a handsome Hanoverian named Orion who is stabled in the county. He enjoys the region as a truly rural spot, only two hours from New York City, where you can choose to see no one or everyone.

Privet House will have the Lambertson Truex curated collection in the annex throughout the holidays. The shop’s regulars have already started purchasing the upscale accessories as gifts: wallets and belts for men; handbags, gloves and boots for women. Other distinctive gifts at the shop include Cire Trudon candles, striped cashmere scarves made exclusively for Privet House in Nepal, Fornasetti room spray in a collectible container, mercury votives and hurricanes and vintage cuttings boards discovered on a recent trip to the South of France.

Privet House is located at 13 East Shore Road in New Preston. Holiday hours are 11am to 5:30pm every day. 860-868-1800  or  www.privethouse.com

Get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the season with our roundup of local events: festivals, markets, concerts, fairs, readings, and more.

December 1 to 21, weekends, 11am to 4pm

Holiday Artisan Marketplace Looking for one of a kind distinctive gifts that will truly be appreciated by the special people on your shopping list? Decked out in festive style, the art studio is the setting for our 2nd annual “Artisan Marketplace”. You will find a wide variety of quality creations handmade by local crafters and artisans including beeswax candles, quilts, wreaths and greens, jewelry and pottery, as well as scarves and mittens hand knitted using wool from Flanders own sheep! Proceeds benefit local artisans and Flanders land conservation and educational programs.
The Studio
Flanders Nature Center
5 Church Hill Road
(At the corner of Flanders and Church Hill Road)
Woodbury
203.263.3711, ext.10

Sunday, December 1, 3pm 
A Boy Was Born:  A Celebration of European Carols 
Kent Singers with a special appearance by the Kent Center School Singers. Traditional and European Carols, including works by Byrd, Palestrina, Britten, Holst, and others.
$15 door,
$12 advance,
Kids free
St. Joseph’s Chapel, Kent School
Kent School Campus 
Kent
860.619.8110
www.kentsingers.org

Sunday, December 1, 4-6pm
Christmas Open House
The Colebrook Historical Society presents a reading of “The Night Before Christmas”; Colebrook School children will lead in singing favorite Christmas songs. Refreshments will be served.
Free
Seymour Inn
Center of Colebrook Town 
Colebrook
860.370.9756

Saturdays, December 1 and 8,
1 to 4 pm
The Silo Holiday Open House
See the Tree, meet Santa,food tastings, and shopping. Come see the 30-foot tall Christmas tree…. the largest in Litchfield County. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate by our tree and visit with Santa!!  Bring your camera. On Saturday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m., Sing Out! CT, Connecticut’s newest vocal ensemble for young voices in concert, will perform in the museum. Led by artistic director Alecia Evans, the all-girl group, with singers from the greater Litchfield County area, will share arrangements of traditional holiday songs. While the concert is free, reservations are strongly recommended. On Saturday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. Valley Voices, Shepaug Middle School’s select group vocal ensemble, under the direction of Beth Harvison, will present a free Holiday Concert by the tree in the gallery. The Silo is full of wonderful holiday gifts for your family and friends. Order a Custom Gift basket or purchase gift certificates to the Cooking School.
The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm Trust
44 Upland Road
New Milford
www.hunthillfarmtrust.org

Friday, December 6 and
Saturday, December 7 and
Sunday, December 8
St. John’s Holiday Bazaar Weekend
Three days of shopping, epicurean delights, decorating insights, gift wrapping, and live and silent auctions. The Bazaar Preview Party is on Friday, 6:30-9pm. On Saturday there is a Fireside Holiday Fete at 4:30. The Bazaar runs from 10am-6pm on Saturday, and from 11:30am-2pm on Sunday.
Free on Saturday & Sunday
Friday Preview Party: $75/person
Saturday Fireside Holiday Fete: $75/person
Weekend Admission: $125/person
(includes Friday & Saturday Festivities)
St. John’s Parish House
78 Green Hill Road
Washington
860.868.2527
www.stjohnswashington.org

Friday, December 6, 3-7pm
Saturday, December 7, 10am-4pm
Sunday, December 8, 10am-4pm 
Hometown Holidays Artisan Sale
Annual Hometown Holiday Artisan sale with pottery, jewelry, fiber art, leather work, photography, paintings, craft demonstrations, workshops, wreath making & more, including new & returning artists. Friday, Dec.6th benefit for OWL’s Kitchen, with hors d’oeuvres and more.
Brook Street 
Lakeville
860.435.9265
KGerstel@aol.com 

Friday, December 6, 10:30am
Out of My Mind
A December to Remember
Celebrate all the seasons with legends and fables, both wondrous and funny. Presented by Carolyn Calandro of “Out Of My Mind”.
$10 per person
Litchfield Community Center
421 Bantam Road 
Litchfield
860.567.8302
litchfieldcommunitycenter@yahoo.com
www.thecommunitycenter.org

Friday, December 6, 5-7pm
Festival of Trees and Lights Cocktail Party
Celebrate the holiday season in the historic Wykeham Room at the library’s annual Festival of Trees & Lights Cocktail Party. Fun for all ages, this event features creatively-decorated holiday trees, wreaths and stockings, which will be sold during the cocktail party to benefit the Gunn Memorial Library & Museum. One-of-a-kind ornaments decorated by local artists also will be offered by Silent Auction. You won’t want to miss the chance to hang one of these miniature masterpieces in your home! Once again, the Library’s tree will be decked with Treasure Pouches. These small organza bags each contain a slip of paper bestowing a special gift. Attendees purchase a pouch chosen from among the tree boughs and redeem their paper slip for an item or service donated by a local business including gift baskets, theater tickets, edibles, gift certificates and more. Start a new tradition this holiday season! Peruse the trees and wreaths while sampling wine and hors d’oeuvres provided by local restaurants. Holiday music will be performed by pianist Wendy Rhodes on the Library’s vintage Steinway. The display will be open for viewing at no charge on Saturday, December 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Items not sold at the Cocktail Party on Friday evening will be available for purchase on Saturday. All proceeds fund the exhibits and educational programs offered year-round at no charge by the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum. Tickets are available at the circulation desk and also will be available at the door the night of the event.
Suggested donation for the cocktail party is $15 per person or $25 per couple 
Gunn Memorial Library
5 Wykeham Road
Washington
860-868-7586
chartman@biblio.org

Friday, December 6, 5-10pm and
Saturday, December 7, 10am-4pm
Bethlehem’s 33rd Christmas Town Festival
An old-fashioned Christmas celebration. Bethlehem’s town green is at the heart of the festival. The buildings and churches surrounding the green will be decorated and will be brimming with holiday crafters and food. On Friday night at 6pm Santa will light the town’s beautiful 75ft. tree. Following the tree lighting, Santa will be available for picture taking. Over 70 exhibitors will be selling handcrafted items just in time for holiday shopping. There will be hayrides and holiday music performances throughout the festival including the joyous sounds of the Chimes In, bell choir and the Waterbury-Derby-Valley Chordsmen. The Christmas Town Festival’s annual limited edition pewter ornament will be available for purchase at Town Hall. Admission to the festival is free. Parking is available at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds with shuttle buses to the Festival.
Free
Bethlehem Town Green
Junction of Rt. 61 and Rt. 132 
Bethlehem
203.266.6326
marycpaul@sbcglobal.net

Friday, December 6, 7:30pm
“Messiah” Sing-In
Music in the Nave Concert Series
Performances of Handel’s Messiah, with the audience singing the chorus have become a Christmas season tradition at St. Andrew’s Church. The Messiah Sing-In will comprise the Christmas portion of the oratorio, or Part I, from the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah and his birth through the Annunciation of the birth to the shepherds. Although it is actually the final chorus in Part II, the Hallelujah Chorus will also be sung. Susan Rotholz, will conduct the Sherman Chamber Ensemble string quartet, the organist, four soloists and the audience-chorus; a more authentic presentation of the piece than the full-orchestra versions that have become popular in recent years. Soloists for the evening will be Sopranos Margaret O’Brien, Alto Melissa Schipul, Tenor Michael Chamberlin and Bass-baritone Joseph McDonough. For the Sing-In the church nave will be divided into vocal sections although singers may sit with friends if they wish. Singers are urged to bring their own scores. Scores will also be for sale at the door. Anyone who wishes to participate or simply to listen is invited to attend. You do not have to be a member of a church. There will be a reception in the Parish Hall after the concert.
$20, $30 with purchase of full score
$22 with score of chorus only
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1 North Main Street 
Kent
860.927.3486
st.andrews.kent@snet.net

Friday, December 6, 7-8pm
Saturday, December 7, 7-8pm
Sunday, December 8, 1-2pm 
Deck the Walls 
at the Crescent Gallery
A winter-themed exhibit that branches in many directions. “Deck The Walls” is a show with a full ‘deck’ of artwork – from paintings to photos, large to small, portraits to landscapes, black & white to color. ‘Tis the season to deck your walls with beautiful local artwork.
Crescent Gallery
158 Main Street 
Thomaston
860.283.2155
art@thomastonfinearts.com
www.thomastonfinearts.com

Saturday, December 7, 10am-3pm
Christmas Open House at HORSE of Connecticut
Pony rides for small children from noon to 2pm; boutique sale, tack sale, hourly tour, silent auction. Bring carrots for the horses. Snow date is Sunday, December 8.
43 Wilber Road
Washington
860.868.1960
horsectinfo@gmail.com

Saturday, December 7, 10am-noon
Gingerbread Nativity Making
Materials will be provided, including gingerbread pre-cut forms, candy, and frosting. Space is limited, and calling early to reserve a table is recommended. Call the number below for reservations.
Pilgrim Hall
Shrine of Lourdes
50 Montfort Road
Litchfield
860.567.1041
lourdesshrinect@gmail.com

Saturday, December 7, 1-4pm
Woodbury Town Christmas Festival
The Hurd House Museum will be open to the public with cooking demonstrations, tours, and 17th Century crafts. The District #2 Schoolhouse will be open to the public that day as well.
Hurd House Museum
25 Hollow Road
Woodbury
203.266.0305
hurdhousect@yahoo.com

Saturday, December 7, 11am-2pm
Thomaston Library Annual Holiday Craft Fair
Students in grades K-12 will market their homemade creations, priced at $5 or less. Shoppers of all ages are encouraged to support the young crafters. Crafters keep all of their proceeds. To register for a craft table, call number below.
Thomaston Library
248 Main Street
Thomaston 
860.283.4339, ext. 3
Thomaston 

Saturday December 7, 3-6pm
The Fifth Annual Winter Stroll
New Preston Village will be filled with lights for the holidays, creative window displays everywhere, live music, drinks and treats in every shop. The Social Gents Club will play an acoustic set at Dawn Hill Antiques.
Free
New Preston Village

Sunday, December 8, 4pm
Candlelight Advent Lessons and Carols
This beloved English tradition features readings from Scripture and a mix of choral music—classical pieces and Advent carols and hymns anticipating the coming of Christ. Marguerite Mullée, music diretor at St. Michael’s, will provide arrangements of carols and motets sung by the choir. Admission is free, but freewill offerings are gratefully accepted.
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
25 South Street
Litchfield
860.567.9465
music@stmichaels-litchfield.org

Sunday, December 8, 2013, at 7pm
The Festival of Lessons and 
Carols in the Hotchkiss Chapel 
The Hotchkiss Chorus will present its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. A tradition at the school for 54 years, the festival is very popular with Hotchkiss students and residents of surrounding communities alike. Part of the program, which includes biblical readings and traditional carols, is performed by candlelight, ushering in the spirit of the Christmas season.  Hotchkiss Chaplain Lou Pressman leads the non-denominational service, with Instructor in voice, Jack Brown directing the Hotchkiss Chorus. All are welcome. Please arrive early, as seating is limited.
Free
The Hotchkiss Chapel,
The Hotchkiss School
Main Building
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville
860.435.4423
www.hotchkiss.org/arts

Saturday, December 14, 1pm
St. Lucia’s Day Swedish Fairytale
Carol Skog, local author of Swedish descent, will give a presentation on and sign copies of her new book, Enchantment Ädventyr, H.C.A. and I Understand, in the Wykeham Room of the Library. Carol will focus on Swedish Christmas customs and conclude with a mini Lucia. This holiday program is appropriate for all ages. Registration is requested for this free program at 860-868-7756.
Lorraine Bergstrom, of Covenant Village in Cromwell and cousin to Leroy Anderson, the renowned composer of “Sleighride”, will perform Swedish Christmas music beginning at 12:30 p.m. An accomplished pianist and violinist, she will entertain on both instruments before and during this event.
Concluding Carol’s book presentation, the fantasy journey continues for attendees who will view a miniature procession of Sankta Lucia. Carol’s granddaughter Lily Wiedemann of Woodbury will portray Lucia, joined by her friends Ella Viau and Fiona Pedro as attendants, Wylden Abraham and Isaac Brenneman as Starboys and Connor Viau as a young Tomte. Lucia will invite all to enjoy the Swedish refreshments including Lucia buns and Pepparkakor.
“Enchantment Ädventyr”, is a creative blending of Swedish folklore elements, into and around reality including a “genealogical” historical lifestyle within holiday customs. The appendix includes three holiday menus with select recipes enjoyed by the book’s characters and Carol’s tips on researching your heritage with Resource References. The Hickory Stick Bookshop will be selling books and Carol will be available after the event to sign books. Snow date: Sunday December 15 at 1:00 p.m.
Free 
Gunn Memorial Library
5 Wykeham Road
Washington
860-868-7586
chartman@biblio.org

Sunday, December 15, 10am
Silent Mice, Holy Mice
Presentation by children and youth.
First Congregational Church, UCC
6 Kirby Road
Washington
860.868.0569
Congreg.Church@snet.net
www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org

Sunday, December 15, 1-4pm
Christmas Extravaganza
The Arts Desire second annual Christmas Extravaganza. Come sit on Santa’s lap and get your picture. Readings of The Night Before Christmas by elves and a visit with Mrs. Clause too!!! Readings at 2pm and 3pm.
The Arts desire
41 Main Street 
Torrington
860.618.0431

Sunday, December 15, 1-4pm
“A Christmas Memory” reading
“A CHRISTMAS MEMORY” reading by Jerry Geci. First published in 1956, this autobiographical recollection of Truman Capote’s rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic. Enjoy Bette Geci’s homemade fruit cake and tea. Please RSVP by Dec. 13.
Free
Litchfield Community Center
421 Bantam Road
Litchfield

Friday, December 20, 6:30pm
Family Christmas Movies
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be shown at 6:30, followed by the film “The Polar Express.”
The Cornwall Library
30 Pine Street
Cornwall
860.672.6874

Friday, December 20, 7:30pm
Christmas Angelicus
‘Tis the time to make merry! Churches and chapels across Northwest Connecticut will once more ring with the music of the season, as this tradition continues to draw packed houses. Old and new arrangements of carols and seasonal songs will be craftily executed by the pure voices of Gaudeamus & Chorus Angelicus, along with traditional carols for the audience delight. Pick a location and hurry to get your ticket: sold-out concerts are part of the tradition!
$40 preferred
$20 general
$10 student 
Trinity Episcopal Church
220 Prospect Street 
Torrington
860.496.8841
joyful.noise@snet.net

Saturday, December 21, 3pm and 7pm
Candlelight and Carols Concerts
Exuberant, inspiring, dynamic, refreshing – just some of the many words describing The Connecticut Choral Society’s  Candlelight and Carols concerts. Add some sparkle to your season by joining us for a time of joyful celebration. You’ll find something for every musical taste and mood, with both traditional and contemporary pieces. The audience has the opportunity to participate in singing traditional carols interspersed throughout the program. Make this concert part of your holiday celebration. There are two concerts: 3pm and 7pm.
$25, $15 (under 18)
Buy tickets at www.ctchoralsociety.org
North Congregational Church
11 Main Street North 
Woodbury
888.927.2933
ctchoral@comcast.net

Sunday, December 22, 4pm
Christmas Angelicus
‘Tis the time to make merry! Churches and chapels across Northwest Connecticut will once more ring with the music of the season, as this tradition continues to draw packed houses. Old and new arrangements of carols and seasonal songs will be craftily executed by the pure voices of Gaudeamus & Chorus Angelicus, along with traditional carols for the audience delight. Pick a location and hurry to get your ticket: sold-out concerts are part of the tradition!
$40 preferred
$20 general
$10 student 
Salisbury Congregational Church
30 Main Street 
Salisbury
860.496.8841
joyful.noise@snet.net

December 31, 7:30pm
2014 TheatreWorks New Year’s Eve Gala
Make the First Night a Great Night! The evening begins at 7:30 with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails (complimentary soft drinks, coffee, wine, and beer). TheatreWorks New Milford will feature the hysterical comedic romp for the Holidays, Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti. At 8:30, sit back and relax as the show begins. For intermission, you’ll be served more delectable entrees. Then comes the second act, and finally, we’ll wrap up the evening around 11:00, with some light dessert, coffee and, of course, champagne! Tickets $75
TheatreWorks
5 Brookside Avenue
(just off Route 202, next to the CVS)
New Milford 
860.350.6863
www.theatreworks.us