Finding Connections in Art

The kiddo took a pour painting class at a library program. It was her first time, quite an experience. 

I spent months planning our summer itinerary, and love when I can connect two seemingly unrelated things. After we picked up her painting, we headed to Westport, Connecticut. 

MoCA Westport was our destination, to see the works of Richard Tsao. His flood room painting style is related to pour painting, but with less restraint. A watered down version, pun intended. Instead of being ever so carefully created and left to dry, Tsao's paintings take years to complete. He compares his work to gardening, hence the name of his exhibition. 

An Interesting Process

Maritime Aquarium and Sheffield Island Lighthouse Tour

Norwalk, Connecticut.  

One of my kiddo's must do trips of the summer was to go back to Sheffield Island with the Norwalk Seaport Association. 

This one was not hard to get last summer, but this year has risen in popularity. And for good reason, it's a great outing, I highly recommend it. 

I started trying to book it on July 1, but everything had filled up for the first couple of weeks already. Ended up booking it for a day I couldn't see on the 10 day weather forecast and hoped for the best.

Things to know: 

1. This is a rain or shine event, but they will cancel for severe weather. We ended up going on an iffy weather day and were told that if we cancelled, it was non-refundable/exchangeable but if THEY cancelled, you could get a refund/change your date. 
2. You can only go once a season.
3. Sunscreen, bug spray, hat, and sunglasses. You need them all. They do have extra sunscreen and bug spray on Sheffield Island if you need it. 
4. Parking is first come, first serve at 4 Water Street. It is a public lot by the dock. It is paid parking; you pay by the hour and the kiosk takes cash or cards. (From here it is a walkable distance to the Aquarium, so if that is your plan go ahead and pay for the extra time and save yourself the headache of looking for parking in the garage.)
5. You can bring a cooler, there is a covered pavilion with picnic tables on the island. 
6. There are 2 tours of the lighthouse offered during your stay. You don't get to go into the lantern room, but it was interesting. 
7. There is a hiking trail on the island, broken down on the map by three sections. View trail map here.

While you're in Norwalk, you definitely should visit the Maritime Aquarium. The entrance is just right around the corner from the parking lot. 

Rescheduled Ballet Under the Stars; Westport Connecticut.

I shared the Ballet Under the Stars event schedule. Be sure to check with each venue regarding the need for tickets. 

The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport has moved their show, but tickets are required. Still free, but registration is limited. They have asked anyone with tickets who do not plan to go to inform the box office and they will be re-released. 

Cancelled for Rain...

It's been a rainy July, so things were bound to get delayed, moved, rescheduled. 

Tonight's event just flat out got cancelled. 

The Connecticut Ballet is doing a series of Ballet Under the Stars' a free event in various places this summer in Connecticut.

Tonight's performance at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, Connecticut has been cancelled. Hoping for better luck in the future. 

See the Schedule Here

If You Are Going to Katonah, New York...Check Out Some Local Gardens

I already shared the Katonah Art Museum in the previous post, but there are other things to do nearby. 

*We have not been since early June, so I am not sure what is in bloom right now*

If you are into gardens; John Jay Homestead.

While you're here, you can take a stroll around the many public gardens at the Homestead. The gardens, like the rest of the grounds, are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and are maintained by several local garden clubs. (My favorite was the Herb Garden.)

The house and other buildings are closed for the season/renovations, but the gardens are lovely. 

Another one we love to walk around is Lasdon Park and Arboretum. 

They Have a Bloom Report

oh...and dinosaurs. If you have littles who like dinos, take a stroll amongst the residents in the Dinosaur Garden. 

Wu Chi-Tsung: Synchronicity

 This one is actually in New York, just over the line -and about 35 minutes away to me. 

Katonah Museum of Art currently has an exhibit of cyano-collages. Wu Chi-Tsung combines cyanotype photography with traditional Chinese painting with collage.

We were present on opening day and got to hear the artist explain the process, but you can watch it here in a 3 minute Time Lapse Video

What I love about Katonah Art Museum;

• the diversity of the featured artists. 
• the Learning Center features a related, kid-friendly exhibit. 
• the Learning Center gives you a hands-on experience of varying arts and craft techniques to go along with the current exhibits. 

So, in the main galleries are the works of Wu Chi-Tsung, but in the Learning Center is the artwork of artist Fiona Robinson from her book The Bluest of Blues, a picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins--the first person to ever publish a book of photography.

While we were there, we made our own cyanotype, kinda. It was a cloudy day, so we ended up with a UV lamp instead. There were several other activities to do as well. The hope is that children (and even adults) will draw inspiration from the Museum's exhibits and create something of their own using the same techniques. 

10/10 do recommend. 

More Information Here

Beardsley Zoo

 An annual tradition, we go every summer. This year we may go more than once! According to the staff at the front gate, families may take advantage of the CT Free Admission more than once per season. The only stipulation being that you have to reserve a new ticket each time you go. Understandable. 

They even made it easier since the first time we got tickets; Tickets Here 

New at the zoo (at least since the last time we went in 2022):

• Baby otters, 4 baby otters, in fact and they were hilarious. 
• The Andean bear is now in his new home, I heard there was going to be a second one later on. 
• The wolf statue by the wolves. 

Things to know:

• The carousel tickets are $2 each or you can buy a booklet that never expires for $10. 
• There is a water spraying (more like misting) elephant near the turtles. A must for hot days.
• Some of the birds have been shuffled around; the eagle and the turkey vulture are in new, temporary homes. 
• You can bring in your own food, but I did not see any water refilling stations. 
• The Pressed Penny machine is located inside the carousel pavilion. 

Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Tour

A must do for the kiddo this summer, as we missed it last summer.  The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat tour is a 2-1/2 hour excursion starts on the train and goes through the Towns of Deep River and Chester. Then aboard the boat for a little journey along the Connecticut River. 

The CT Free Admission tickets sell out pretty quickly, and can only be used once per season. Get Tickets Here

There are other excursions; dinner and lunch train rides, they have a Fall leaf peeper tour in October, and they also do a Polar Express ride during Winter. 

Things to know; 

• seating is on the middle level and the lower level. The upper level is only open while the boat is in motion, and is limited to 40 people at a time. 
• The bathrooms and snack bar are located on the lower level, and it definitely cooler and less crowded. They serve snacks, drinks (alcoholic and non), and also lunch foods such as burgers and hot dogs. There was no menu I could find online but there was a wide variety of items and they do accept cash and card. 
• the upper deck is hot. I recommend a hat. I had on baby sunscreen and STILL got a little bit of a sunburn. The view however, is spectacular.
• If you plan on birdwatching, bring binoculars. We saw egrets and osprey and a bald eagle. If you plan to take bird photography, bring your big lens. I had my 55-200mm lens but wished I'd brought the 70-300mm. 

While we were there, the Stars Above open air circus was setting up. It runs from July 7-9 in Essex, but there are other dates in Connecticut. More Information Here

Library Cat Society

Dewey Readmore Books was probably the most famous library cat. He lived in Iowa's Spencer Public Library for 19 years. After his death, a book was published about him;  Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World.

But there are more. So many more. I had no idea how many more. And we found one library with cats on a recent adventure. 

Mystic Noank Library in Mystic, Connecticut has not one, but two cats in permanent residence. They do roam freely upstairs and there are cat tunnels and toys scattered throughout the stacks. 

We met Violet and Matilda who have living in the Mystic library since 2021. Before that, was Emily. She lived at the library for 17 years. There is a memorial stone on the library grounds and a scrapbook of her life available to read in the Spicer Reading Room. 

Available for sale at the library are some kitty cat swag souvenirs. Cash or check only, they do not accept cards. 

Is there a Library cat near you? Check out this list, which is US Libraries with cats. Library Cats in the US

For further reading; Go Here

Duck, Duck, Goose

A few years ago I came across a painted dog in Downtown Stamford. I didn't know it at the time, but it was part of their Art in Public Places that apparently happens every summer. This summer it's painted giant "rubber" ducks. 

Get the information and downloadable map HERE

We have been out for the last 2; painted pianos and hedges shaped like animals. We never found them all in past years. 

However, this year they advised us to download the Otocast App for Digital Exhibit Map, Audio Guide & Artist Commentary! Available for IOS and Android. GAME. CHANGER. We found almost all the ducks before my battery started getting low and I had to navigate us back to the car. Highly recommend. (And we hit about 10,000 steps in the process.)

While you're in Stamford; check out the enormous hippo in front of the library. Read All About Her

One of the ducks is near the Brownstein/Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion & Nissen Carousel in Mill River Park. Rides are $2. open Saturdays and Sundays only. They also sell snacks, drinks, and ice cream. More Info Here

Magic and Marine Life

 Mystic, Connecticut. One of the kiddo's top three choices for this summer. Aquarium, Seaport Museum, and Olde Mistick Village were on the agenda. *If you are following the 169 Club book, Mystic is actually not a town or a village in Connecticut; it's in Groton and Stonington (depending on where you are in Mystic.)

*PLEASE NOTE* If you are planning to use the CT Free Admission tickets for the Mystic Aquarium, you MUST get tickets online. They sell out quick, and are not available at the door. New tickets are released every Monday. Our tickets were for entry AFTER 3pm, but that was plenty of time to see all the things we wanted to see. 

Mystic Seaport Museum is also included on the list but has tickets at the door, you just have to show your CT State ID. Recommend visiting the Wendell Building for the ship carvings and Figureheads on display. At the North Entrance there is a an art exhibit, included in admission. Currently on exhibit is Alexis Rockman: Oceanus. 

Olde Mistick Village is open to all, no tickets required as it is basically just a shopping plaza. On the must do list was visiting the Potion Bar at The Cloak and Wand. Kiddo had the Wizard Beer and mom opted for Liquid Gold. Small shop and can get quite crowded, but it comes in waves. There was only one other family inside when we went in but by the time our potions were ready it had gotten crowded. If you plan to do any shopping, do it before you order a drink, as there is only one register and it's at the potion bar. 

2 Birds, 1 Stone

The theme of my summer is really going here, there, and everywhere. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to go to more than one place in a day...especially if you are driving anywhere over an hour. 

Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth, Connecticut was the planned destination. 

It's a great place to go when you're in the mood for more of a nature walk than a hike. The lavender was just starting to bloom while we were there, so it was lovely. Smelled wonderful too- not overpowering, pleasant. 

Things to do while you're here; 

-Ride the LPF Express: a cute little purple train...and it's electric! ($6 per person)

-Try the Lavender Lemonade. I liked it but the kiddo was not a fan as it is made with honey. ($3.75 per bottle)

-Do the scavenger hunt. While we were there it was a popular activity with kids big and small. At the end, you get a little prize.

-Play a giant game of chess. 

-Lots of photo opportunities, it is a lovely place. 

Lavender Pond Farm

Where we ended up next, as it is only 15 miles away...Gillette Castle State Park. This was our second trip here and for the first time, we took the castle tour. ($6 for adults, 6-12 $2, free for those under 5.) 

Well worth the trip. It is beautiful, and the castle is fascinating. Gorgeous views of the Connecticut River. 

Gillette Castle

Lyman Orchards Middlefield, Connecticut

Pick Your Own Strawberries at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Connecticut. 

We were there in time for the CUDDLE A THERAPY DOG event at the Apple Barrel Farm Market but skipped the story time with the Levi E. Coe Library. 

                                

Aside from the Farm Store and picking your own fruits, there are frequent events like these at Lyman. 

Lyman Orchards Upcoming Events Page

When we went it was predicted to be one of the last weeks for picking strawberries, and the first week for raspberries. We ended up doing both. 

                                     

It was a berry good start to our summer adventures. 

Pick Your Own Harvesting Schedule

Free Free Free

One of the things I take full advantage of is the library. In Connecticut (and I am sure other states as well) you can check out books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, CDs, and MUSEUM PASSES. In some counties, you can even borrow things like sewing machines. 

My local branch has several museum passes. You check them out, like you would any library resource, but you only have it for 3 days. With a card you can borrow items from any branch in the Connecticut library system, but you can only check out passes from your home library. 

In Connecticut we are fortunate to have the CT SUMMER AT THE MUSEUM again this year, which gives free admission to one child -and includes their grown-up. Through this program some families will be able to experience some of Connecticut's coolest destinations for the first time. Cost is prohibitive for many. On the list are more than 120 CT museums. 

More information can be found HERE 

Bloom Where You Are Planted

I think most of us have heard the expression Bloom where you're planted. I moved to Connecticut years ago and stayed fairly close to my own town. Then I encountered a few things further afield and saw that Connecticut has so many interesting things to see and do. 

I am not paid to endorse anyone or anyplace. These posts reflect my experiences and hopefully a few tips and tricks for anyone going to any of these destinations in the near future. 

My 11 year old daughter is my adventure buddy. Some of our excursions are more kid friendly than others. 

My mission; exploring everything that piques our interest in the area. My maximum distance (for the time being) is limited to 2 hours. These are absolutely day trips for us, we live in Fairfield County. 

P.S. We are just beginning the Connecticut Mural Trail Tour (self-guided) and love this one in Bristol, Connecticut. 

“Bloom where you are Planted” by jag.ink located in Main Street in Bristol, CT.