Take It To Go: Upcoming Virtual & On-Site Events in Connecticut

Friday, July 31st

 Virtual Men’s ViGong* & Tantra Classes With Adam Brown of Heart-Centered Touch (12-1pm)

The Virtual Men’s QiGong & Tantra class  focused on our wellness  – Respiratory & Immune Strength – and on our continued erotic health while maintaining a consistent sense of community.The Connection which we all have committed to over the years is threatened by social distancing. But, it only a pause, a re-set. We will be together again in person before too long. Meanwhile, we use technology to solidify that connection and share what we can during this disruptive time in our world.

[Full Details]

Me & D at Heritage Park Fridays

Heritage Park, Stamford, CT 12-2pm

 Susan Carson is both an artist and a musician. In her art, Carson works both in fine ink pen and acrylic paint. While her drawings are more exacting and detailed, her paintings are lively, loose and expressive using rich color and texture. She is a member of the Loft Artists Association in Stamford, CT. She can be found regularly working in her studio there, listening to good music.

As a musician, Susan plays guitar and sings regularly in Me & D, a hard driving acoustic duo with David DeLallo. Two albums of original songs and over a thousand public performances explain why Susan connects with and loves to paint musicians.  Free event.Heritage Park is at the corner of Bank & Main Streets, behind the Old Town Hall.

Present Laughter by Noël Coward

Streamed Live at PBS.org

Kevin Kline’s Tony Award®-winning performance in Noël Coward’s Present Laughter, first produced in 1942 with Coward himself in the leading role. Free. Streamed live at PBS.org. Through August 28.

For a complete list of current and upcoming free live streams of stage productions, click here.    

Virtual Weekend in Norfolk, CT

Starts 6 pm on July 31. Through August 3. 

Fifth annual Weekend in Norfolk, all online at https://weekendinnorfolk.org.Enjoy music, art, nature, kids’ events and more, both live-streamed and on demand, all without leaving home and all for free! See gorgeous Tiffany stained glass, tour artists’ studios, hear all kinds of music from chamber to pop to rock, get fishing tips, see a famous golf course, there are entertaining events for everyone in the family. Three exciting days, from Norfolk, to wherever you are. This is a free event.

Saturday, August 1st 

Sunflower Maze at Lyman Orchards

*Runs through August 30th

Middlefield, CT

Discover the joy of getting lost in the heart of the orchid among 350,000 blooming red and yellow sunflowers. This year, celebrate “Back in Space” theme. As you navigate along nearly two miles of twisting and turning pathways searching for the exit, fun trivia clues will help guide the way. Experience the unique Sunflower Maze and help a great cause, $1 of each admission is donated to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., last entry at 4:30. Adults $10, children (4-12) $5, 3 and under free.  (860) 349-1793  http://lymanorchards.com

Hartford Marathon Foundation’s new Evergreen Adventure

Starts at 6am on August 1. Through August 31  

 August adventures await – there’s no better time to get outside and explore state parks! Find solitude in wonders of nature or enjoy bucolic moments with an inner circle of adventure seekers as part of Hartford Marathon Foundation’s new Evergreen Adventure, presented by Webster Bank.

Hiking, walking and running excursions are compiled with directions to visit 20 parks in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Also included is a selection of locals’ favorite spots for ice cream, lunch, bagels and more. Let the beauty of the region’s natural resources motivate you to move, and the Evergreen Adventure reward you. $15 (ages 12+) / $10 (ages 2-11) For more information, click here. https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/evergreen-adventure/

Donizetti’s Don Pasquale

Ridgefield Playhouse  Ridgefield, CT (2pm)

 ENCORE PRESENTATION IN HD Donizetti’s timeless comedy shines in Otto Schenk’s enchanting production, conducted by James Levine and featuring a remarkable cast. The incomparable Anna Netrebko is Norina, the young widow beloved by Ernesto (a suave Matthew Polenzani), who is about to be disinherited by his miserly uncle, Don Pasquale (John Del Carlo). It takes the clever scheming of Dr. Malatesta (Mariusz Kwiecien) to set things right and to teach the old curmudgeon a lesson—fits of temper, mistaken identities, and all kinds of comic confusion included. Run time 2 hours, 22 minutes

Tickets: $25 | Members & Seniors $20 | Students $15 | 18 & under FREE
FREE tickets for students 18 & under!  Please call the box office to reserve.
AAA members receive a 20% discount! Ridgefield Library cardholders receive member prices for this show.

FACEMASKS ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES. Please maintain a 6 foot distance from others. For more information, click here.

Foxwoods Drive-In Movie

Aug.1  HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 1

Aug 2  HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2

There’s nothing like a trip to the drive-in. The big screen under the stars. Warm popcorn. Crisp night air. Wearing your pajamas to the movies. Coming together as a community to enjoy cinematic adventures. Dress up like your favorite Harry Potter character and receive a free popcorn! PLUS two guests in costume will magically win a $50 Gift Card! $25 Per Car + $15 Environmental Fee. For more information, call 800-200-2882

Tickets can be purchased at the door but we strongly recommend purchasing in advance.

Ticket Sales for the Drive-In Movie will stop at 6pm, The Day of the Event. If Available, Tickets will be sold at the gate starting at 7:15pm. Concessions Will Not Be Sold on Site. RULES + GUIDELINES

Sunday, August 2nd

Virtual Tours at the New England Carousel Museum  Bristol, CT

The New England Carousel Museum and Museum of Fire History are pleased to offer a variety of Tours online through Zoom. Select one of the themes below and our Program Coordinator, Kristen Berggren and/or Subject Specialist Cate Mahoney will guide you virtually through our 33,000 square foot facility. Ask questions and participate and all guests will receive a BOGO promo code to visit us in the future!  Perfect for library programs, virtual student field trips, civic organizations, or book clubs! For all the particulars and cost, click here.

LGBTQ Virtual Tour of Père Lachaise, Paris’ Great Monumental Cemetery (2pm -3:3opm)

The famous residents include Chopin, Rossini, and Jim Morrison—who died in Paris, probably of an overdose—but also many LGBTQ people. Oscar Wilde’s controversial (and much-kissed) tomb is the most visited in the cemetery, but there is plenty more to see, including the tombs of Proust, Sarah Bernhardt, Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas, Colette, and great allies and icons, such as Maria Callas and Edith Piaf. In this talk Professor Lear will show you around the cemetery and tell you their stories.

Cost: $10. Please note that this fee helps keep our small business going during the crisis so we can get up and running right away when it is safe to bring people together again in person.  Tickets: pariscemetery.eventcombo.com

Monday, August 3rd

Art Collective in Stamford Downtown  5 Landmark Square

Each year Stamford Downtown hosts a distinguished outdoor sculpture exhibit designed to attract both local and regional audiences. This years exhibit, Art Collective, will include a collection of 34 sculptures on loan from six regional artists including Gilbert Boro, Barry Gunderson, Lorran K. Jacobs, David Millen, Morris Norvin and Emily Teall, whose works will be on display throughout Stamford Downtown this summer. Download the Otocast App for exhibit map, audio tour and artist narratives. Free event. For more information (203) 348-5285 | Info here|

Virtual Men’s Yoga, Breathwork and Guided Meditation Classes With Colby Smith of Shankara Studio

Colby leads weekly virtual & clothing optional Men’s Yoga classes in his private studio in Lambertville, NJ for all levels of men and strongly believes that the physical practice of yoga is just one component and incorporates many styles and modalities into his teaching, including meditation, breathwork, touch practice and partnering. Known to many of us as “Miss Giggles”, Colby brings a warm, lighthearted approach to all of his teaching! Cost: $15 recommended.  [Full Details]

Tuesday, August 4th

New Exhibition About Women Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, Norwalk CT

The exhibition, About Women, in collaboration with Silvermine Arts Center will mark the physical reopening of LMMM’s galleries and celebrate women’s artistic contributions as they are finding their voices and making an impact throughout the professional world. The exhibition just opened and runs through Sun., January 3, 2021.

Curated by Silvermine Gallery Director Roger Mudre, the exhibition will feature selected works by female members of the Silvermine Guild of Artists and provide an overview that will celebrate their diverse directions in subject matter and media and their contributions to contemporary art.

Admission to the exhibition will be included with the purchase of a tour ticket and be subject to museum tour schedules and rules. Click here to purchase tour tickets

What It’s Like to be Back at the Bruce Museum, Greenwich CT

*Runs through Aug.9th After a heart-wrenching but necessary closure to help the community recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the Bruce Museum reopened its doors late June, offering not only members but all visitors free admission to view several exhibitions currently on view and to shop in the ever-popular Museum Store.

The major international exhibition, On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark, has been extended and will be on view in the main gallery through August 9. On the Edge of the World showcases 25 of the most important pieces that represent the key themes and sheer variety and complexity of the work of L.A. Ring, considered one of the most important figures in Danish art. The Bruce Museum is the only East Coast venue to host the exhibition in the U.S. For more information, click here https://brucemuseum.org/

Wednesday, August 5th

Avant-Garde Past of Clock Factory New Haven Museum, New Haven CT

Using original and archival video and photography and artifacts, Factory ​highlights ​some​ of the people, personalities and artistic endeavors once present in the building. The aim of Jason Bischoff-Wurstle, the exhibit’s curator and NHM director of photo archives, was to portray the spirit of Elm City counterculture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He is fascinated by the many layers of the building’s afterlife. “To passersby it looked abandoned, but it was teeming with life and most people weren’t even aware of it.” For more information contact us at  (203) 562-4183 http://newhavenmuseum.org  ** Runs through August 29th

Trivia Night Livestream!

Danbury Library  Danbury, CT

COVID-19 may have shut down our monthly trivia gathering at Charter Oak, but we can still livestream our questions! Tune in to our facebook livestream, start a watch party with your friends, answer the questions at home, and keep score! (We’ll trust you not to Google the answers. And Charter Oak Brewing Company LLC is doing curbside pickup, so you can have your beverage while you play.

You can register your team name ahead of time and get a spot on our gameboard. Registration is only necessary if you want your team to be included on the public scoreboard. You can just watch the feed and keep track on your own! For more information visit http://www.DanburyLibrary.org agilbertie@danburylibrary.org  (203) 797-4505

Thursday, August 6th

Weekly Online Meditation with Steve Schwartzberg

Come sit together for 45 minutes of silent meditation, sharing the support of virtual sangha (community) while in the comfort of your own home. Instruction will be offered in techniques of mindfulness meditation, from the Insight Buddhist tradition.  All levels of experience are welcome, as are all styles of silent contemplative practice. (7:30 – 8:15am weekly)

To join, simply go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81014351597

The program is offered free of charge, but donations are gratefully accepted.  DONATE HERE

 This is one of many virtual retreats offered through Easton Mountain Retreat Center in Greenwich, NY. For more information visit https://www.eastonmountain.org/virtual

Social Thursdays – South Farms, Morris, CT

5:30 – 7:30pm weekly through August 27th

Bring a blanket and the entire family to meet up with friends and enjoy summer evenings at the farm. Food trucks, music, drinks and fun (no outside food or beverage). Thursdays only! For more information visit  http://southfarms.org/featured-events/

Friday, August 7th

Sunflower Festival – The Farmstead Location – Woodbury, CT

Discover some peace from this world’s challenging times in our tranquil sunflower field. Wander through our 18 varieties of exquisite sunflowers thriving across four acres. These sunflowers are an array of brilliant colors: reds, yellows, cream, white, orange, and even green. This fulfilling two hour experience culminates in your choice of cutting one of the beautiful blossoms discovered on your walk to take home.

For more information, (203) 263-4550 Ext. 2 https://thefarmwoodburyct.ticketspice.com/the-farms-sunflower-festival

An Unfinished Revolution: The Women’s Suffrage Centennial, Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich, CT

A dynamic exhibition that showcases the role Greenwich women played on the national stage in achieving the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment. Featuring a wide variety of historic objects from museums, libraries, private collections and descendants of suffragists to illustrate the long struggle for the right to vote. Free with regular museum admission.Through September 6  Wed – Sun. Noon-4pm. For more information, (203) 869-6899  http://greenwichhistory.org

Saturday, August 8th

New Canaan Sculpture Trail

9am – 6pm Waveny Park, New Canaan, CT

The Carriage Barn Arts Center has partnered with the New Canaan Land Trust to create the New Canaan Sculpture Trail, an exhibition that celebrates Earth Day’s 50th anniversary. By joining art and nature, this inaugural outdoor art installation promises to connect residents and visitors to our natural surroundings.

The New Canaan Sculpture Trail features eight juried outdoor sculptures, installed at six New Canaan Land Trust preserves, the front lawn of the New Canaan Town Hall, and the courtyard of the Carriage Barn Arts Center in Waveny Park. Each sculpture was evaluated by its ability to respond to the geography of the individual properties while meeting the criteria of being visually engaging, interactive, and distinctive. Through October 31. Admission is free. For more information call (203) 972-1270  https://sculpture.newcanaanlandtrust.org/  Info@newcanaanlandtrust.org

Norwalk Islands Sunset Cruise

6:30pm Norwalk Seaport Association Dock, Norwalk, CT

Visitors can board the Seaport Association’s 45-foot  C.J. Toth catamaran for a relaxing two-hour cruise through Norwalk Harbor and Long Island Sound.  Join us for one of the most exciting tours that the Norwalk Harbor Islands area has to offer! During this unforgettable adventure tour of outer reaches of Norwalk Harbor providing unique views of the city and the surrounding waterways. Tickets: $30 For more information contact (203) 838-9444  http://www.seaport.org Capacity is limited to 25 passengers. Cruises do sell out. We recommend you purchase your tickets in advance. (Walk-up tickets are sold, space permitting. Ask the cashier when you arrive).

Britain in the World: A Display of the Collections

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT

In 2016, the third phase of an important multiyear building conservation project was completed, and visitors can now experience not only a renewed masterpiece of modern architecture by Louis I. Kahn but also a freshly reimagined installation of the Center’s collections. Nearly four hundred works, largely the gift of the institution’s founder, Paul Mellon (Yale College, Class of 1929), and augmented by other gifts and purchases, are on display in the restored and reconfigured galleries on the fourth and second floor. Through December 31. Admission is free. For more information call (203) 432-2800  or click here.

Sunday, August 9th

Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro

2pm Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT

ENCORE PRESENTATION IN HD  The Met assembled a vocal dream team for Jonathan Miller’s stylish production of the eternal Mozart masterpiece: Renée Fleming as the Countess, Cecilia Bartoli as Susanna, and Bryn Terfel as Figaro. With James Levine—one of the world’s great conductors of Mozart—in the pit, Bartoli interpolating two rarely heard alternate arias, and Dwayne Croft as the Count and Susanne Mentzer as Cherubino, this is a performance for the record books. Run time 3 hours, 3 minutes

Tickets: $25 | Members & Seniors $20 | Students $15 | 18 & under FREE
FREE tickets for students 18 & under! Please call the box office to reserve.
AAA members receive a 20% discount!

FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES. Please maintain a 6 foot distance from others. Click here for more info. 

Sunken Garden Poetry Festival Young Poets Day with Mahogany L. Browne

5pm – Hill-Stead Museum   Farmington, CT

Hill-Stead Museum’s renowned Sunken Garden Poetry Festival is a unique outdoor arts event that takes place on the grounds of this National Historic Landmark in the heart of Farmington, CT

Picnics are welcome and food and wine can also be purchased from festival vendors. Guests bring their own chairs and blankets and choose a spot among the flower beds, surrounded by eight-foot stone walls and the sounds of nature. Inspired by the surroundings, many attendees take the opportunity to write their own poetry and prose, lingering after dusk to finish their poems and conversations.

Hill-Stead is proud to make the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival accessible to all.. Tickets: $15 in advance (online), $20 at the gate, youth (18 and under) free.For more information call (860) 677-4787 or visit, here.