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

The Local Sailing Club is Fast Approaching its 100th Anniversary

By Gavi Klein

Photos courtesy of Bantam Lake Yacht Club

For an organization that has been around for almost 100 years, the Bantam Lake Yacht Club (BLYC) still manages to keep things fresh. The club, based just south of Litchfield, was founded in 1933 by Al and Tim Hine. When they first began, they would hand out business cards to potential new members as invitations to join. 

Today, members can sail a variety of boats depending on availability, but back then, members joined as sailors of a single boat. This was less of a financial barrier than one might assume, as there was a phenomenon in the 30s of using plywood to make boats at home. “You’d make a mold and then wrap plywood around it and glue everything up. Get a coat of fiberglass on it, and then you’d have your boat for very little money,” says Ed Kavle, former commodore and BLYC member for nearly 20 years. From this national wave of plywood-popularity, Kavle explains, came the invention of the Sunfish, the most popular sailing boat to this day. 

During the summer season, the club hosts “Sunfish Sundays,” races that take place weekly from the fourth of July through Labor Day. Robin Viola, current Vice Commodore of the club, loves these events. Her favorite thing about the BLYC is to do the race committee; along with a few other moderators, Viola goes out on the lake on the pontoon boat to keep the Sunfish race in order. “There’s no better view of the sailboats than being right in the middle of the race,” she says. “Throughout my whole life, I’ve loved to watch sailboats.”

In addition to the Sunfish races, the club also hosts the Around the Lake Race, an annual mixed-vessel race where all are welcome. This race dates back to the early days of the club, when it was called the French Trophy Race, named after an early member, Fred French. 

Races and regattas aren’t all the club has to offer, however. Kavle runs a high school sailing program at the club that includes students from a variety of schools in the area. The program includes STEM content in addition to sailing practice, and Kavle is passionate about the work. “Kids don’t get asked to master very many difficult things these days,” Kavle says. “Sailing is one of those sports that you learn every time you go out, and you get better and better. I think it teaches independence.”

The club is a lot smaller now than it was back in its heyday, but seems to be facing a bit of an upward trend. In 2013, the club had only 33 members; now, they have close to 80. Throughout the summer, members host parties and picnics together, learning from each other and sharing in the beauty of Bantam Lake. “Sailors are just really nice people,” Kavle says. “They love the environment, love no-engines, love people in nature. It’s a nice group.” 

FRIDAY

Rose Algrant Art Show
The Rose Algrant Art Show taking place August 11-13 is one of Cornwall’s oldest traditions and, some say, its most community minded event. Featuring Cornwall artists exhibiting (and selling) paintings, photography, drawings, ceramics, textiles, prints, and sculpture. 

Ivan Polyanskiy Jazz
This Summer Sunset Concert is taking place on August 11 from 6-10 PM, featuring the Ivan Polyanskiy Jazz Quintet – all the way from NYC! Bring your own picnic and enjoy delectable desserts from Brits Brand!

SATURDAY

Changing Tides: Paintings of the Sea
The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens are delighted to welcome their next art exhibit, “Changing Tides: Paintings of the Sea,” featuring works by Michael Chelminski, on view beginning Friday, August 11.

Growing Wild, Gardening for the Birds
This lecture, held on August 12 from 10-11 AM led by Dr. Ian Stewart, Ornithologist for Delaware Nature Society, will explore several ways that gardeners of all levels and experience can start a conservation effort in their own backyard and help birds thrive throughout all four seasons.

Second Saturdays 2023
Join Kent Barns on the second Saturday of each month for this highly anticipated day. Local growers, makers, and artisans bring forth a selection of regionally sourced flowers, food & wares and the shops, galleries, and eateries are prepared with new exhibitions and inventory!

Artist Reception – OHIKA
A solo art exhibit featuring OHIKA taking place on August 12 from 4-6 PM. A series of hand monoprints figurative paintings using inks, and oil paint mix media.

Landcraft Garden Foundation Summer Benefit Featuring Pilobolus
As part of a weekend devoted to fundraising for the garden, Landcraft Garden Foundation will host the renowned dance company that has amazed live audiences in 64 countries and was featured on the Oscars and at 3 Olympic Games, Pilobolus. 

Midsummer Party for Conservation
Purchase tickets for the Midsummer Party for Conservation which raises essential support for NCLC, the largest land trust in the state. Taking place August 12 at 7 PM.

Free Star Party
The John J. McCarthy Observatory will hold its monthly Second Saturday Stars program on August 12th, 8:00pm to 10:00pm. All are welcome to enjoy a brief outdoor presentation, Ionized Hydrogen & Galactic Evolution, along with the sights of the Summer night sky.

SUNDAY

Steppin’ Out on Broadway
The Waterbury Chorale is pleased to announce that they will be performing “Steppin’ Out on Broadway – Thru the 90’s.” Purchase tickets online for a performance you won’t want to miss on August 13 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM!

A Lake Waramaug Renovation Put a Home in Touch with the Lake

By Zachary Schwartz

Photographers: Antoine Bootz and Mick Hales

Architects design waterfront homes with a singular directive in mind: take in the vista. For one home on Lake Waramaug, the house was on the lake’s edge, but not maximizing the lake views. Robert Dean Architects was called upon to renovate the home and convert every room into an unobstructed lake-facing room.

The objectives of the renovation included open floor plans, added guest accommodations, a landscaped backyard for entertaining, and additional lake-view windows. “We changed the character of the home quite dramatically, but did not change the footprint of the house,” explains Michele Van Steinburgh, Robert Dean Architects’ Studio Director.

Situated among tall forests and rolling hills, and just around the corner from the historic town of New Preston, this precious property sits on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Waramaug. “The homeowners got hold of this absolutely one-of-a-kind site, but the house was not exactly tailored to their needs. They wanted us to rework the house to accommodate their very active social lifestyle,” says Robert Dean, the Principal and President of Robert Dean Architects.

Robert Dean Architects, in collaboration with contractor John Dinneen, began the renovation in the nucleus of the home: the great room. “We reworked the great room to be bright, white, and light,” says Van Steinburgh. Upgrades included a modernized and crisp aesthetic, painted shiplap surfaces, and a reconfigured entrance. What was formerly a dark mahogany chamber is now the dramatic great room, a transformed oasis directly in dialogue with the lake outside. The space is decorated with a monochromatic palette, marvelous two-story curtains, a fireplace, and clandestine bar.

Another key aspect of the renovation entailed converting the garage into a kids wing, equipped with four bunk beds, dormitory-style bathroom, and game room. Every design detail is functional for a festive sleepover, ranging from beds with built-in electrical outlets to omnipresent towel hooks to custom cabinetry by A-Design by Artur.

For interiors, the homeowners enlisted Bettina Routh, who incorporated design elements of Americana lake lifestyle. The serene decor is light and airy, invoking a muted design scheme of grays, pale wood, cement, and rattan. Given the lack of color, the eye is drawn directly to the lake from all rooms. Decorative accents include a collection of vintage dust pans, a roost bamboo cloud chandelier in the breakfast room, and a Tucker Robbins basket chandelier in the sunroom.

The house is well-equipped for socializing and hosting. The kitchen’s exposed self-service shelves, labeled bulk bins full of lake essentials, towel-stocked mudroom, and four pristine guest bedrooms lend an unequivocal hospitable flare to the residence. The upstairs guest wing in particular evokes the impression of an ultra-luxurious bed and breakfast. “Everything you need to feel like you’re at home is here,” says Van Steinburgh.

As part of the renovation, entertaining spaces were added in the backyard along the banks of the lake. A heavy timber pergola was constructed to take in the views, perfect for midday reading on the couch swing or evening soirées by the fire. The backyard also features a dock for boating and water sports, a beach, hot tub, and outdoor shower. “Bringing the home in touch with the lake and making the lake the source of the architecture was something I really enjoyed,” says Dean.

Complimentary to the lake vistas is the home’s stunning landscaping, initially installed by Joan Rothenbucher and now maintained by Daybreak Estate Care. Gardens of colorful hydrangeas, roses, peonies, and herbs blossom proudly during spring and summer.

Seemingly every detail has been considered at this private Lake Waramaug enclave, a home that will only improve with age and mature alongside its socially active family.

FRIDAY

Sherman Artists “August Light”
The Sherman Artists Association is featuring a show “August Light”. This is the first time the Sherman Artist Association has had a show in Kent and there are over 30 artists participating with over 100 works of art! The opening reception is Friday, August 4, from 6 – 8 pm!

Movies @ the Park: Kiss me Goodbye
Screening of Kiss Me Goodbye at The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens. Event is free and open to the public. BYO blankets, chairs, food and beverages. Movies roll at dusk. Leashed pets only.

First Fridays
Hollister House Garden invites you to Come, have a glass of wine in the barn. Then enjoy a walk in the garden. A perfect start to a summer weekend, August 4, 6-8 PM.

Kent Sidewalk Sale
Catch more than just one good bargain during the Kent Sidewalk Sale Days scheduled for Thursday August 3 through Sunday August 6, 2023.

SATURDAY

Bantam Lake Ski Show
The 65th Annual Bantam Lake Ski Show will be taking place August 5 & 6 at 2 PM at Sandy Beach! Head to the beach to enjoy the sun, snack on some food, and see the next generation of Bantam Lake Skiers!

Goshen Open Farm Tour
This Goshen Grown tour highlights the unique and diverse farms that call Goshen home. Come learn, explore and experience this special agriculture community August 5th and 6th 10 AM to 4 PM!

Ellie and the Clouds
Join the Eric Sloane Museum for an exciting day of S.T.E.A.M-based learning as we take to the clouds at the Eric Sloane Museum. August 5 from noon to 2 PM!

Antje Duvekot
Head over to New Milford on August 5th at 8:00 PM to listen to Antje Duvekot, one of Boston’s top singer songwriters! Tickets $25!

Wanda Loves William!
A musical benefit to support the production of Romeo & Juliet, featuring Wanda Houston and the HBH Band. Head over to the River Walk Pavilion on August 5th with picnicking starting at 5 and music at 5:30 PM. 

Modernism and Tradition
Jennifer Homans, author of the George Balanchine biography, Mr. B and Hugh Eakin, author of Picasso’s War, will engage in a wide-ranging conversation about the United States and Europe, modernism and tradition, and the individuals who ultimately laid the foundations for contemporary American art and culture. Saturday at 4 PM. 

Hike Mount Tom Preserve
Join us for a tour of “the other” Mount Tom Preserve. This guided hike will follow a 1.3-mile loop trail. August 5, 9 AM to 11 AM.

The Sculpt Society 
Journey to our idyllic countryside inn for our August installment of Move at the Mayflower with an exclusive, in-person event with The Sculpt Society’s leading trainer, Katy Schuele, on Saturday, August 5th at 11 AM. 

Make Art From Your Life
Come to the Cornwall Library on August 5 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM when collagist Roxana Alger Geffen is offering a workshop for adults interested in creating collages!

SUNDAY

Ulysses Quartet & Oskar Espina Ruiz, Clarinet
On Sunday, August 6 at 3 PM, head over to Music Mountain to hear Ulysses Quartet & Oskar Espina Ruiz, clarinet. Free pre-concert special at 2 PM!

Great Food from Great Farmers in Warren

By Charles Dubow

Photos by Zandria Oliver

There are few things more satisfying than observing someone do something at which they excel. Watching, for example, LeBron dunk a basketball, Yo-Yo Ma play Bach or Jacques Pépin carve a roast chicken is not only a delight but, more importantly, also a reminder that talent is not always shared out equally. 

I had such a satisfying encounter in early spring when I visited Earth’s Palate Farm in Warren. It was there I met Renée Giroux and Kevin MacPherson. This young couple exudes sweetness and sincerity. For a moment you might consider them just two more earnest farmers who have a starry-eyed notion about living off the land and, hopefully, growing good things to eat. But then you talk to them and you realize that these people are total pros. 

Renée—who despite her name is actually not French but, amusingly, her husband Kevin is—is a serious farmer who graduated from Naugatuck Valley Community College with a degree in horticulture. She honed her knowledge of organic farming in New Mexico and was the farmer for New York City chef and restaurateur David Bouley. Kevin is a master patissier, chocolatier, and chef who trained in Paris and has worked all over the world before settling in Connecticut. Together they work their farm, where they produce a range of good things to eat from spinach, lettuce, and chard, to eggs and sirloin steaks and croissants and macaroons and chocolates—and much, much more. (I highly recommend everything but Kevin’s croissants are the best I’ve eaten outside of France. He’s a genius.)

While everything they grow and make is available for purchase on their website, they also operate a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and provide their goods to a number of restaurants and markets in the area, including Community Table, Swyft, Le Gamin, and Bantam and Northville markets. 

And if running a year-round 40-acre organic farm with four greenhouses wasn’t enough, they are also raising two children, a flock of 400 chickens and two Great Pyrenees. But that’s not all—Renée gives a series of lectures on organic gardening, and, God knows where she finds the time, is also the manager of the Northwest Connecticut Regional Food Hub. The NWCT Food Hub works with over 30 local farmers and 20 wholesale buyers to provide fresh food to not only local restaurants and markets but also to schools, senior centers, and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. “We’re so fortunate to live where we do,” she says. “And the community here has been so supportive. One of the programs that we really hope to grow is to keep providing fresh produce for food-insecure low income residents in Torrington and Winsted. We’d love to expand our reach to other towns in Litchfield County.”

It’s hard not to be impressed by two people who are committed to making the world around them a better place. Elizabeth Chandler, a member of the Warren Land Trust’s board, was so impressed that she decided to make a documentary about them. “Farming is already an incredibly challenging job,” she says. “But they are such resourceful people who have demonstrated over and over their ability to cope with whatever life throws at them: crazy weather, COVID, you name it. So far they are pulling it off.”

“You know, they remind me of that Marisa Tomei character in My Cousin Vinny. You remember when she takes the stand and the prosecutor asks her about cars? He has no idea that when she opens her mouth she is going to be such an expert. That’s what Renée and Kevin are like. They’re just so good at what they do.”

66 Town Hill Road, Warren, earthspalatefarm.com

FRIDAY

Litchfield Jazz Festival
From Friday July 28 to Sunday July 30, the 28th annual Litchfield Jazz festival will be taking place. Purchase tickets online for concerts, artist talks, and more!

Saturday

RCS & Zydeco Hogs
The Beekley Library presents – CONCERT ON THE FARMINGTON, New Hartford Pavilion. River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs. Saturday, July 29th at 6:00 p.m. Kick back by the Farmington River in New Hartford and enjoy some classic zydeco rhythm and dance! Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and food/drinks.

Light and Shadow Exhibit
Please join KMR Arts for the opening of Light and Shadow, on Saturday, July 29, from 1-5pm. Light and Shadow is a group exhibition including works by Caio Fonseca, Lisa Elmaleh, David Heald, Stephanie Lear Henderson, Barbara Vaughn, Sandi Fellman, and Lollo Samuelson. The exhibition will be at the gallery through September 16, 2023. 

amArtHouse Gallery Opening
Presents selected work of Janet Adler Schur, Helice Carrise Bernstein and Ken Elias. Opening reception July 29 4-8 PM. The evening is sponsored by Litchfield Distillery and Jazz music by Albert Rivera Trio.

New Milford Arts Festival 
The New Milford Arts Festival is returning to the New Milford Green on Saturday, July 29th. All types of creative and performing arts will take over the Green from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The entire event is free and will have activities and art for all ages

Cornwall Day
Come celebrate all that Cornwall has to offer on July 29, with multiple events happening throughout the town like a farm market, talk and walk with Cornwall Historical Society, Theater Campers performance, and more!

Swingtime Big Band
On Saturday July 29 at 7 PM, Swingtime will be returning to Litchfield County for their 15th annual Music Mountain Concert! Inspired by our 2023 Music Mountain Summer Festival theme, this dynamic 20-piece band celebrates this musical homecoming with a program of swingin’ hits from the Great American Songbook–all focused on the concept of ‘Home.’

Hey Look! It’s Michael and Mardie!
New York City piano/vocal duo Michael Garin and Mardie Millit have been known to stir up delicious mayhem wherever they go. Now they bring their patented fizzy cocktail of musical virtuosity and goofy charm to this evening of standards, showtunes, original songs, surprises and laughs.  Saturday July 29 at 7 PM.

Rob Brereton
Rob Brereton is considered one of the pioneers in contemporary mountain dulcimer playing. His years of studying classical guitar have polished his playing style while his degree in music theory and composition has given him a fresh approach to arranging.

Author Event: Martha Voutas Donegan, 3003 Days of Mike & Me / and the wars between us
Martha Donegan is a prizewinning author; this, her first book, was shortlisted for Best Nonfiction at the Faulkner/Pirate’s Alley competition, 2019. It’s been a labor or love–the book took eight years to write, and nearly a year and a half to see publication. 

Book Reading: Wish House
Martha Voutas Donegan reads from her new book, she calls a Generational Memoir: 3003 Days of Mike & Me / And the Wars Between Us, at The Wish House, on “Cornwall Day, where most of the narrative action takes place. Open to all. 2-3:30 PM.

Grand Finale Concert
The Hotchkiss School is pleased to welcome back our Summer Portals Concert Series. Young Artists and Guest Artists share the stage for this exciting final performance of our summer series. This event is FREE and open to the public and begins at 7:30 pm. 

The Spongebob Musical 
The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. The Spongebob Musical, sponsored by Torrington Savings Bank and presented by stage @ the warner, will run from Saturday July 29 to Sunday August 13.

Sunday

American String Quartet
On July 30 at 3 PM, American String Quartet will be participating in the Music Mountain Summer Festival! Purchase tickets online to experience their performance!

FRIDAY

Friday Night Gathering at The Colebrook Historical Society 
The Colebrook Historical Society will host a “Friday Night Gathering” on Friday, July 21. It will begin at 7:00 PM at the Seymour Inn, home of the CHS, with refreshments. Circa 7:30 the gathering will move to the Colebrook Town Hall Meeting Room for a presentation of highlights from his most recent book, “The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution”, by noted historian Dr. Eric Foner.

Saturday

Forma Pilates
Join us Saturday, July 22nd at 11:00 AM at our idyllic countryside inn for our July installment of Move at the Mayflower with a one-of-a-kind, in-person event with Forma Pilates, the most sought after and exclusive New York City and Los Angeles luxury boutique pilates studio. Experience Forma Pilate’s renowned Mat Series, which fuses classical pilates with reformer pilates, with leading instructors Drew Carlin and Georgia Wood. Experience this athletic style of training that is strategically designed to target and burn from the moment you start to the moment you finish. After class, recover with garden-fresh juice, shop exclusively curated items from our sponsor FP Movement, and explore the treatment menu at THE WELL at Mayflower Inn, our holistic wellness destination.

Terry Wise/Judith Wyer
In July and August, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will present “A Place at the Table” featuring the paintings of Terry Wise and Judith Wyer. The exhibition showcases the artists’ still-life work focused on the table, whether full settings with vintage plates and teacups, or intimate arrangements of flowers, vases, and other household items. A reception with refreshments will be held on Saturday July 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibition will be on display at the library during operating hours through August 18.

WAA’s Annual Summer Solstice Fundraiser
It’s WAA’s sensational annual Solstice Celebration and it’s sure to be a night to remember! Enjoy live entertainment including performances by the spectacular Maria Torez Dancers with tropical beats from Cuban band Ochun. Savor Sumptuous south of the border bites while sipping tall cool cocktails created by our own Abdo, The Mojito King. Also try the tasty traditional Cubanos prepared exclusively for us byThe Mayflower Inn and Spa. You can also treat your senses with a gallery wall of colorful curated art available for purchase. $150 per person in advance $200 at the door. 6-10 PM!

Barbara Fasano Trio
On Saturday July 22 at 7 PM, Award-winning pop/jazz vocalist Barbara Fasano returns to Music Mountain with her signature mashup of pop and jazz standards that unite the generations. Joining Barbara is her frequent collaborator, acclaimed pianist/singer Eric Comstock. Rounding out the trio is eminent bassist Boots Maleson, known for his collaborations with Ron Carter, Dexter Gordon, Milt Jackson and more. Together this trio makes the American Songbook come alive, and audiences feel they’ve been to a terrific party where the songs and the stories are equally great. Join Barbara’s trio at Gordon Hall for a soulful, swinging summer soirée!

Carly Sakolove: I’m Every Woman
On Saturday July 22 at 7 PM, direct from New York City, actress, singer, and impressionist, Carly Sakolove brings you an evening of vocal impersonations sure to make you wonder, “Is she lip syncing to the original?!”   Hailed by the New York Times, New York Post, and Time Magazine, Carly brings to life your favorite singers and celebrities. From Liza to Shakira, Adele to Menzel – you’re sure to be wowed!

2023 Frank Gala Concert
The Hotchkiss School is pleased to welcome back our Summer Portals Concert Series. The Frank Gala Concert features renowned pianists Fabio Witkowski and Gisele Witkowski, alongside violinist Ralph Evans, performing works by Schubert, Franck, Enescu, and Milhaud. This event is FREE and open to the public and begins at 7:30 pm. Grounds open two hours prior to the concert, if you wish to bring a picnic and enjoy the breathtaking views, before heading inside to the air-conditioned venue.

David Roth
David Roth strikes many chords, hearts, and minds with his unique songs, offbeat observations, moving stories, sense of the hilarious, and powerful singing and subject matter. As singer, songwriter, recording artist, keynote speaker, workshop leader, and instructor, David has earned top honors at premier songwriter competitions – Kerrville (TX) and Falcon Ridge (NY) – and taken his music, experience, and expertise to a wide variety of venues in this and other countries full-time for three decades. Head to the Merryall center on July 22 for a performance by David Roth! Tickets are $25.

Sunday

Cornhole with the Cows
On Sunday July 23 from 12-6 PM, head over to South Farms for the first ever Cornhole with the Cows, a fundraiser for Morris Beach and Recreation. This is a great family friendly event open to everyone in the community! Backyarders and Competitors alike are welcome to join in on the fun. Separate categories / prizes for each division makes for a fun, hands-on experience for all! All equipment is provided and there will be food trucks on site as well as beer and wine available for purchase!

Euclid Quartet
On Sunday July 23 at 3:00 PM, Euclid Quartet will be performing at Music Mountain in Falls Village! Also available is a free pre-concert talk at 2 PM called “Discover the Music of Hugo Kauder.”

Friday

Movies @ the Park: Driving Miss Daisy
On July 7 at 8:00 PM, viewers will get a chance to experience a free screening of the film Driving Miss Daisy at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens. Not just this, but there will be a live, in-person Q&A with screenwriter Alfred Uhry before the film! This event is free and open to the public. BYO blankets, chairs, food and beverages. Leashed pets are allowed. Movie rolls at dusk!

Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
1 Green Hill Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Something Rotten
On Friday July 7 from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, head over to Sharon Playhouse to see one of the last performances of Something Rotten! Purchase tickets online. Three other performances will be offered; two will be on Saturday July 8 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM or from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. There will also be a performance on Sunday July 9 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

The Bobbie Olsen Theater at Sharon Playhouse
49 Amenia Road, Sharon, CT 06069

Saturday

Wanda Houston Project
Music Mountain in Falls Village is America’s oldest continuing summer music festival featuring jazz, chamber music, and choral concerts in Gordon Hall. Buy tickets online to see Wanda Houston Project on July 8 at 7:00 PM!

Gordon Hall, Music Mountain
255 Music Mountain Road
Falls Village, CT 06031

Roxbury Pickin ‘n Fiddlin Contest 2023
Sponsored by the Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department on July 8th is the 47th annual Roxbury Pickin ‘n Fiddlin Contest! For a bluegrass festival like no other, head over to Hurlburt Town Park for great food, amazing music, and a good time! Gates open at 12:00 PM and it is recommended that attendees bring a lawn chair/blanket!

Hurlburt Town Park
18 Apple Lane
Roxbury, CT 06783

Clinton Kelly at KML
On July 8 at 2:00 PM join Kent Memorial Library for a workshop and fundraiser with the one and only Clinton Kelly to learn the nuts and bolts of style! Clinton Kelly is best known for hosting TLC’s wildly popular makeover show, What Not to Wear, for a decade. He also won an Emmy as well as wrote several books. He lives in New York City and Kent (but likes Kent better). Free & Open to the Public. Mr. Kelly kindly requests a suggested donation of $20 to attend the event; all donations benefit the library directly. Register online!

Kent Memorial Library
32 North Main Street
Kent, CT

John John Brown
On Saturday July 8 from 8:00 PM-9:30 PM the Merryall Center will be hosting John John Brown, artist who brings  giant comics, iconic photographs, and moving panoramas to the stage. John John Brown mixes storytelling songs with the visual arts creating “an imaginative musical performance woven into a unique visual experience.” Those wishing to attend can purchase tickets online!

Merryall Center
8 Chapel Hill Road
New Milford, CT 06776

Second Saturdays 
Join us on the second Saturday of each month for this highly anticipated day in Kent Barns. There is always excitement in the air and so much to experience in our beautiful setting. Local growers, makers, and artisans bring forth a selection of regionally sourced flowers, food & wares for our outside markets, and our shops, galleries, and eateries are prepared with new exhibitions and inventory to tantalize all visitors. As you explore, we hope you enjoy all we have to offer on this special day.

6 N. Main Street Kent Barns
Kent, CT

FEAST
On July 8 from 4:30-7:30 PM, Standard Space will be presenting FEAST, a delicious group exhibition curated by Will Hutnick featuring painting, sculpture, and video by Taylor Lee Nicholson, Max Benjamin Sarmiento, Dana Sherwood, Lucy Stark, and Heather Yeo! Join the feast and discover first hand the ways in which artists are using shared experiences with food and drink to spark new encounters with the world around us!

Standard Space
147 Main Street
Sharon, CT 06069

Ellie and the Clouds: S.T.E.A.M. Education Program
Kids from grades 8-12 are invited to join the Eric Sloand Museum on Saturday, July 8th, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM for a fun-filled day of activities! This free program examines the  of Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War Two, as well as activities including Cloud Making, Foretelling the Weather, Drawing and Painting the Sky, and so much more! 

Eric Sloane Museum 
31 Kent Cornwall Road Kent, CT 06757

Sunday

Ariel Quartet
Music Mountain in Falls Village is America’s oldest continuing summer music festival featuring jazz, chamber music, and choral concerts in Gordon Hall. Buy tickets online to see Ariel Quartet on July 9 at 3:00 PM!

Gordan Hall, Music Mountain
225 Music Mountain Road
Falls Village, CT 06031

WSO’s Annual Picnic and Pops
Get out the picnic basket and a parasol, it’s time for Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Picnic and Pops on July 9 at 5:30 PM! This three-decade old tradition serves up the sounds of summer and features music by Gershwin, Ellington, Sousa and Woodbury’s own Leroy Anderson, and the beguiling vocal stylings of WSO fan favorite broadway sensation Maria Wirries. An outdoor concert in a beautiful setting, bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and picnics and … don’t forget your favorite bubbly and buddies!

Hollow Park 
43 Hollow Road
Woodbury CT

Annual Bethlehem Firefighters Association Annual Car Show
The 23rd Annual Bethlehem Firefighters Association Annual Car Show will take place on Sunday, July 9th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The show will be held at the Bethlehem Fair Grounds, where motorcycles, cars, and trucks are all welcome to come! The Bethlehem Lion’s Club will also be there selling food all-day. It is 10$ per entry, and only 2$ for spectators! Come by to see Dash Plaques for the first 100 cars, Sponsorship Trophies, Door Prizes, and the People’s Choice Award!

Bethlehem Fair Grounds
384 Main Street North, Bethlehem, CT 06751

Family Fun Day! by Time Out Foundation
On Sunday, July 9th, the Time Out Foundation is hosting a Family Fun Day full of music, mindful movement, and activities for all ages! Although officially kicking off of 11:00 AM and ending at 3:00 PM, they are also hosting a trivia night later in the day. Although the trivia night is a bit of a drive, it will be a fun filled evening at the Great Fall Brewery in North Canaan from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

Time Out Foundation
408 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, CT

Beavertides Farm is Using Innovative Farming Practices to Build Community

By Zachary Schwartz

Photo: Ryan Lavine

At Beavertides Farm, Marleen van Gulick and Dan Carr are converting sunshine into sustenance. Through innovative agricultural practices, nose-to-tail grass-fed meat production, educational events, and a colorful social media presence, this farm is reimagining what a modern day community could be.

Van Gulick is a Dutch former United Nations counter terrorism worker with a penchant for shepherding. Carr is a former rugby player and Stone Barns Center employee with a passion for agroforestry. The two met at a rooftop beekeeping course in Queens. A year and multiple bee hives later, they married and moved to Litchfield County to start their own 70-acre farm.

Beavertides Farm raises grass fed Katahdin sheep and Kiko goats for meat. Van Gulick is the primary farmer, but the couple farm together with their two young sons. “This is what women have been doing, and what people still do in many parts of the world. I would just tie my child on my back, nurse them when they’re hungry, and take care of my animals. My days are basically just tending to the needs of creatures, human and not,” says van Gulick.

The farm focuses on sustainable, regenerative, pasture-based livestock farming. They practice managed intensive grazing, whereby livestock are moved daily so the fields and animals remain fallow and healthy. “Our passion to raise ruminants that live on grass grown by sunshine is such a beautiful process. It feels balanced and good to produce food for people with what we have here on the land,” says van Gulick.

In addition to raising livestock, Beavertides Farm has an apiary for sweet honey production. “Beekeeping has always been a huge part of what we do here. We’ve always had hives and taught beekeeping courses, which is nice because that’s how we met,” says Carr.

Beavertides Farm promotes nose-to-tail diets by selling lamb and goat meat boxes via their website. Boxes include a variety of nourishing cuts, accompanying recipes, and an invitation for a private farm tour. Van Gulick’s favorite recipes include a slow braise with homemade wildflower vinegar, chops over the fire, bone broth, liver pâté, and neck rillettes. “I love connecting to the older, rural ways of eating, which is starting with a wonderfully raised animal, then cooking it in simple ways. I love old European cookbooks from 100 years ago.”

The farm also offers beekeeping courses, farm tours, pasture walks, and farm-to-table dining events, with an emphasis on community building. “People come here and connect with our family and to experience our farm life. That community aspect is what I long for. I really try to create that for others,” says van Gulick. She emphasizes community building both in-person and digitally, where the farm’s website and Instagram share delightful images of bucolic landscapes, as well as adorable lambs and kids.

As for what’s next, Beavertides Farm is planning to introduce beef boxes as well as agritourism farmstays, further efforts to foster community in their Northwest Connecticut neck of the woods. —beavertidesfarm.com

At Hogpen Hill Farms, Edward Tufte Has Sculpted a World of His Own

By Zachary Schwartz

Photos courtesy of Edward Tufte

The art cognoscenti know where to go in search of large-scale sculptures that defy museum walls. In Upstate New York alone, there is Storm King Art Center, PepsiCo’s sculpture gardens, and Art Omi. Litchfield County’s take on expansive sculpture gardens lies quietly off the beaten path at Edward Tufte’s Hogpen Hill Farms in Woodbury.

Much like his artwork, Edward Tufte is multidimensional. Not only is he an expert in statistics and data visualization, but he has also published a series of best-selling data visualization books, consulted for large corporations, opened an art gallery in downtown Manhattan, and even advised former President Barack Obama. Following a successful career in academia and writing, Tufte departed from professorship at Yale University in favor of more creative pursuits: larger than life sculptures.

“I find both data visualization and sculpture very enjoyable and rewarding. But there’s no difficulty in sculpture for me. It comes easily. It’s perfectly natural,” says Tufte.

In order to display his own artwork, the sculptor acquired 234 acres of former farmland in Woodbury called Hogpen Hill Farms. At first, he rarely allowed public visits to his sculpture garden. That changed during the pandemic, with summer weekends now open for visits to his serene property.

Tufte’s panoply of colossal sculptures are scattered throughout the property. “The wonderful thing is that there is so much space here in Litchfield County, which itself is an inspiration. It’s a kind of miracle that I have control over making the art and where it goes,” says Tufte.

Hogpen Hill Farms exhibits towering stone megaliths, a gargantuan black swan, physics references to Feynman diagrams, and nods to artistic greats like Duchamp, Matisse, and Magritte. Along the road are humorous signs, like “Sign Not in Use” or “Shut Up and Look.” These cheeky imperatives introduce the viewer to Tufte’s prankish yet didactic messaging for visitors to independently experience the artwork.

The sculptures vary in subject matter and source, but common themes include the use of found objects (such as machinery from the Millstone Nuclear Power Station), unplanned three-dimensionality of materials, the juxtaposition between art and its environmental air space, and a wink of prankishness and pastiche. Some of Tufte’s art looks like it could have been jettisoned from outer space, while others look like primitive drawings from prehistoric eras.

Dancer with Calipers depicts a sky-high stainless steel dancer with flowing hair carrying a tool. Rocket Science 3: Airstream Interplanetary Explorer wedges a full-size airstream in midair on a rocket to Mars. Larkin’s Twig is a 32-foot torqued steel installation that shifts perspective and perception with each angle. There is also the bamboo maze, a labyrinth of tall bamboo that demands introspection in its anechoic chamber.

“I want people to have a calm and gracious experience. Most people go away smiling. They leave happy,” says the artist. For an opportunity to observe out-of-this-world sculptures and peer inside the inspirational mind of a creative genius, feast your eyes on Edward Tufte’s Hogpen Hill Farms.