One (1) Hour Historical Walking Tour

IMAGES features the work of local photographer Charles Ruger and the 4^th Annual Juried Photography exhibition celebrating the work of talented regional photographers.

Charles Ruger studied art history and politics at Connecticut College and Columbia University. He is a self-taught photographer whose work figures into private and corporate collections internationally.

He lives and works in New York City. For more information on Ruger’s work, view his site: http://www.charlesruger.com/aboutthework.html

Stroll back in time in this walking tour exploring the history and events surrounding the infamous attack on Fairfield by the British on July 7, 1779. View significant sites on the town green and listen to first-person accounts read by costumed interpreters.

Come help us celebrate the 20th anniversary season of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival! Enjoy readings by major American poets, live music, writing workshops, poet talks, film and drama, museum tours, Poetry on the Trails, contra dance, book sales and signings, food vendors...picnics are welcome! 

Admission:  OPENING WEEKEND, June 1–3: $10 per person, per day, or $25 per person for the weekend. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, and August 1: $5 per person, children ages 12 and under free. Parking is free.

Guest poets include: Suji Kwock Kim, Bessy Reyna, B. Yung, Richard Wilbur, Minton Sparks, Toi Derricotte, Dana Gioia, Christian Wiman, Marilyn Annucci, Natasha Trethewey, Sue Burton, Donald Hall and Tony Hoagland.

For more information: http://sunkengardenpoetry.org/

Donate your gently used furniture for the Amherst Survival Center's annual fall used furniture sale! See www.amherstsurvival.org, email furniture@amherstsurvival.org, or call 413-549-3968 x252 for information or to arrange pick-up or delivery. All contributions are tax deductible, and donations will be collected through the end of August so we can set up for the sale at the Survival Center September 7th and 8th. The sale supports Survival Center programs that provide food, health care and clothing to over 4,000 of our neighbors in need in Hampshire and Franklin Counties in MA each year.

WALKING TOURS TO BEGIN JUNE 23-24

Two newly developed walking tours will be offered to the public for the first time on the weekend of June 23-24, and will run through mid-September.

Historic Guilford Walking Tours are Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m., and will focus on Guilford’s history on the Green and areas east, with an introduction to downtown’s house museums.

Tours focusing on Guilford’s architectural heritage will be Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., and will take place on the Green and neighborhoods west.

All tours will meet in front of Town Hall, 31 Park St., and will be led by enthusiastic high school tour guides/researchers. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 7-11, and $20 per family. Group tour rates are available upon request.

For reservations and information, please visit www.HistoricGuilfordWalkingTours.org, email info@HistoricGuilford.org, or call 203-233-1026. Tickets are also available at Mix Design Store and the Greene Art Gallery, 29 Whitfield St., Page Hardware and the Guilford Food Center on the Guilford Green.

 The exhibit uses historic photographs, artifacts, and first-hand accounts to explore 260 years of Cornwall’s relationship with its forests, showing how and why the town transformed from forest to farm and back to forest. The exhibit will also explore changing attitudes about the forest, from the 18^th century view of woods as a source of timber to more recent concepts of the forest as a setting for recreation and as a vital ecosystem.

Portland, CT – July 7 and 8, 2012. It’s back, but in typical Brownstone style, it’s better. The annual July party continues, but this year it’s even easier to grab the gang and head over to Brownstone for the day, evening or weekend.

“When families and friends are deciding where to go, we want Brownstone to be a no brainer,” said Sean Hayes, General Manager of Brownstone. “That’s why this year we’re offering a coupon for an all-you-can-eat meal plan for $10.99. This is normally $24.95. We have special second shift entry rates (after 4:00 p.m.) on Saturday for folks that may have other plans during the day but still want to party at Brownstone and try night zip lining, movies and the beach party. And we’ve got discounts for any group of ten or more.”

Old favorites return including the Top Dog Hot Dog eating contest. New features this year include free movie night, all-you-can-eat meal plans for $10.99, volleyball and challenge course competitions. The newly introduced 2012 attractions round out an already amazing line up of fun and activity. New attractions include: increased ziplines (there are now ten) including triple racing lines, a new beach area with volleyball, two new additional overhead wakeboard cables, a seventy-foot cargo net climb, expanded picnic areas, the Guts & Glory obstacle course, new walking trails that lead to all activities within the park and a new cliff-top picnic area with panoramic views of the park. Prizes will be awarded for the volleyball, Top Dog Hot Dog eating and Guts & Glory competitions.

Also new this year, every Saturday the park will remain open until 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy the free movie under the tent or try the thrill of night time ziplining. The “second shift” entry is now available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, where guests save 25% on admission fees.

Go to Brownstone’s website to sign up for their newsletter and receive special coupons and offers.

In the Rio Grande River Valley of central New Mexico and eastern Arizona, the Pueblos, a people spread over 19 communities, continue to practice their ancient art of pottery-making.  Descendents of the Anasazi, the Pueblo People, still use the traditional coiling methods and decorative patterns that have distinguished their work for centuries..

This exhibit compares and contrasts the unique style of each Pueblo community and highlights individual artists who have shaped this timeless craft.

 The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm* and Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm *      *Last admission 4:30pm

To complement our Stories in Clay exhibition, IAIS is proud to highlight the artwork of Johnnie Lujan of the Pueblo of Isleta in central New Mexico during the months of July, August and September. As a child, Johnnie sat at his Grandmother’s knee while she fashioned and baked the cooking pots they would need for everyday use as well as the pottery they would decorate and sell.  At an early age Johnnie began drawing and decorating everything insight.  He studied illustration and drafting at the Design Drafting School of Colorado where he later worked as a substitute instructor of technical illustration.  Johnnie continues to design ceramic pieces, as well as his modern skull paintings and pen & ink drawings.

All-Star Driver, Connecticut's leader in driver's education, is open in Norwalk! Classes will be offered at the Norwalk location during afternoons, evenings and on weekends. The new All-Star Driver facility is located at 430 Main Avenue (across from Merritt 7 about a mile from the DMV) and is now open for business!

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is traveling to Sherwood Island State Park for some fun in the sun. Presented in conjunction with the Sherwood Island State Park Nature Center, these live animal programs will explore the little-known world of these prehistoric survivors and introduce families to beautiful and endangered reptiles from around the world. Presented beachside (weather permitting) or in the Park’s new nature center, the programs are sure to engage, educate and inspire! The Zoomobile is FREE. Check with venue for admission fees, if any.

Opening Reception: Friday, August 10, 6-8pm

Artist Demonstration Day: Saturday, August 4^th, 1-3:30pm.

Please see attached images.

The Connecticut Pastel Society, a statewide fine arts organization with national

outreach, is pleased to be returning to the Lyme Art Association for their 2012

Signature Member’s Exhibition.  This juried exhibition of more than 50 paintings

created by the Society’s premier members will be on display and for sale from

August 3 through September 22 in the Goodman Gallery at the Lyme Art

Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday, 1-5pm.

This year’s exhibition will include a first time ever trio Artist Demonstration Day

on August 4^th, 1:00-3:30 pm.  The public as well as fellow artists are encouraged

to attend this free opportunity to see how a painting comes to life.  You will have

the opportunity to either experience a still life demonstration by Alain Picard,

a cityscape by Janet A. Cook and a macro landscape by Karen Israel.  The

artwork created by these three well known artists, will be graciously

donated and offered for sale at our premier silent auction throughout the six weeks of the

exhibition.  Bids will commence at the Opening Reception on August 10th at 6 pm

and end at 4 pm on the final day of the exhibit, September 22^nd.  Bids will be accepted

throughout the exhibit, either on the auction bid sheet accompanying the

paintings or by phone to the LAA at 860-434-7802.  All proceeds

from the auction will benefit the Connecticut Pastel Society.