Biscotti and Beyond July Farmers Market Schedule

Simonne will be at the following locations on the dates and times listed. 

July 2017 

Sat        1       Old Saybrook               9-12:30

Fri         2       Chester                       10-1
Thurs     6       Clinton                        4-7
Fri         7       Cromwell                     4-7 
Sat       8        Parmelee Farm            10-1 
Sat       8       Old Saybrook               9-12:30
Sun      9       Chester                       10-1
Thur    13      Clinton                        4-7
Fri      14        Cromwell                      4-7 
Sat      15       Old Saybrook               9-12:30
Sun    16       Chester                      10-1
Thurs  20       Clinton                         4-7
Fri      21       Cromwell                      4-7 
Sat     22       Old Saybrook               9-12:30
Sun    23       Chester                         10-1
Thurs  27       Clinton                          4-7
Fri      28       Cromwell                       4-7
Sat     29       Old Saybrook                 9-12:30
Sun    30       Chester                         10-1

Music at the Mansion

Music at the Mansion

Wednesdays in July 2017''

Grounds open at 5:30 p.m., Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.,  Free.

Each Wednesday in July, the Wadsworth Mansion will open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking, and shows on the Mansion’s back lawn will begin at 6:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public and guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnics.

Performances:

July 5th: Eight to the Bar

July 12th: Doo Wop Deville

July 19th: Locomotion

July 26th: Sugar

East Hampton Gazebo Summer Concerts

Thursday, this summer, at 6:30 p.m. the gazebo in the East Hampton Village Center will be the site of the Goff House Gazebo Concert Series

June 29 Jake Kulak and the Lowdown
July 13 The Modern riffs
July 20 Plywood Cowboy
July 27 Old Dog New Tricks
Aug 3  Band to be announced.

Bring a picnic supper, blankets, and chairs. 

Willimantic Brewing Company

The first thing that you will notice as you approach the Willimantic Brewing Company is what a beautiful building it is in. This 1909 former United States Post Office had been abandoned in 1967. It has found a wonderful new life as the third home of this popular restaurant and it is a perfect pairing. 

We stopped here last Saturday after seeing a show at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre in Storrs. We had planned to eat at Applebees but after waiting 10 minutes in an empty restaurant without even our drink order being taken we walked out and decided to head to Willimantic. We said thank you Applebee's as we walked out after our delicious meal, we had a better meal and fabulous service. 

We opted to eat in the bar, luckily it was early and we could still get a table, you can also eat outside or in the dining room. The quality of the food and service is no secret and the place fills up fast, plan accordingly. 

The menu is eclectic and there certainly is something for everyone. Kasey is taking part in a Paleo challenge and so had restrictions, Al loves his beef and I wanted grilled shrimp, all of us found exactly what we wanted. 

I created my own plate, I had grilled shrimp, a baked potato, and sauteed vegetables. Al had the beef kabob which was served with veggies and mashed potatoes and Kasey had a build your own chicken sandwich which she had without the bread, she picked avocado, wonderful balsamic beer glazed onions, and in place of the fries, she had broccoli. 

Our waiter was very attentive even though he was busy and the food was delivered perfectly cooked in less time that I could have imagined. Al's beef was cooked perfectly rare and he loved the flavor. My baked potato was also perfectly cooked. The shrimp were delicious. 

I always enjoy finding a new restaurant that I love and the Willimantic Brewing Company certainly fits the bill and I can see us coming here again and again. 

Town Wide Tag Sale East Hampton June 17

Get the family together and head to East Hampton on Saturday June 17th for the town wide tag sale. Sponsored by the Chatham Historical Society it is a great way to support their work and also find some great deals. 

Strawberry Festival 3rd Congregational Church Middletown

The Third Congregational Church on Miner Street in Middletown will be having their annual Strawberry Festival on Thursday, June 15, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have never gone to this festival you are missing the best strawberry shortcake in the world.

I try to never miss getting here to enjoy this special treat. It is the best strawberry shortcake ever!!!

Lyman's Orchard Strawberry Fest

The annual Strawberry Fest on June 17, 2017 kicks off the summer event season, celebrating family fun, Lyman's fresh grown strawberries, and sweet strawberry treats from the Apple Barrel. 

Fun activities include Breakfast on the Deck, Strawberry picking in the orchard, live music, complimentary food tastings and demos, pie eating contests, pony rides, and interactive activities for children throughout the day. Plus, Bruno Bros. will be making their delicious Kettle Corn throughout the event!

Come out and enjoy the enjoy Middlefield's own “dynamic sister duo" and rising country artists Presley and Taylor. Described as “the real deal” and “absolutely brilliant” by radio execs, Presley & Taylor embrace the sound of stone cold country music and traditions, while adding a whimsical charm with their absolute vocals and impeccable harmonies, and song content created with meaning and substance. Presley & Taylor have shared the stage with award-winning entertainers and hit-makers such as Martina McBride, Ashton Shepard, Bucky Covington, Janie Fricke, Sarah Darling, Jamie O’Neal, The Willis Clan Buddy Jewell and Restless Heart. 

CT Historian and Durham resident Diana McCain will be on hand to sign her new fictional novel, Thy Children's Children, which brilliantly traces five generations of the Lyman family throughout the turbulent decades that saw a handful of American colonies transformed into a young nation on the cusp of the industrial revolution.

Macaroni Kid will be here with one of the most classic crafts. Your kids can make cool and colorful necklaces out of different types of macaroni!

And don't miss out on the Pie Eating Contests! Dive face-first into a delicious Lyman Orchards pie to win great prizes!

Check out the Lyman's Orchard website for the full schedule. 

Cheshire Strawberry Festival and Craft Fair

2017 is the 80th year for this traditional New England festival featuring farm-fresh strawberry shortcake along with grilled foods, handmade crafts, amusements and entertainment that are fun for the entire family.

The event is held on the historic Church Green in the center of downtown Cheshire June 10, 2017,  from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

More than 30 juried crafters and artisans providing wonderfully hand-crafted items of all shapes and sizes. A unique opportunity for you to obtain one-of-a-kind articles for yourself or as gifts.

Connecticut Repertory Nutmeg Summer Series

Why not take advantage of some great theater right here in Connecticut? The three show Nutmeg Summer Series kicked off with "1776" which began on June 1 and runs through June 10. I just saw it this past Saturday and it was outstanding. Terrance Mann is this summer's artistic director and he has done a splendid job of making this period of history both fascinating and at times amusing. 

The Second show is "Noises Off" which runs June 15-25 and the final show is "Newsies"  July 6-16. 

Ticket prices are very reasonable and the quality of the productions rivals anything I have seen in London or New York. You won't be disappointed. Check out their website for times and dates and seats still available. 

I have been a season ticket holder for three seasons and I have never been disappointed. 

Connecticut Art Passport

For lovers of art, the Connecticut Art Pass is a passport to 19 fabulous museums across the state all for one price. For about 1/3 of the cost of normal admission, you can see some of the most outstanding art that Connecticut has to offer.

The cost for the pass is $25 and can be purchased online. It is a $90 value. 

You print out the pass and present it at the included museums.

Museums included in the pass are:

 

Bruce Museum — Greenwich, CT

• 1 Museum Dr, Greenwich, CT 06830
• (203) 869-0376
• http://www.brucemuseum.org/

Center for Contemporary Printmaking — Norwalk, CT

• 299 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
• 203-899-7999
• http://www.contemprints.org/

Fairfield University Art Museum — Fairfield, CT

• 1073 N Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824
• 203-254-4046
• http://www.fairfield.edu/museum

Greenwich Historical Society/Bush-Holley Historic Site — Cos Cob, CT

• 39 Strickland Rd, Cos Cob, CT 06807
• 203-869-6899
• http://www.hstg.org/

The Housatonic Museum of Art — Bridgeport, CT

• 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT 06604
• 203-332-5052
• http://www2.housatonic.edu/artmuseum/

Weir Farm National Historic Site — Wilton, CT

• 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
• 203-834-1896
• http://www.nps.gov/wefa

 

Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University — Hamden, CT

• 3011 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
• (203) 582-6500
• http://ighm.org/

Yale Center for British Art — New Haven, CT

• 1080 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511
• (203) 432-2800
• http://www.yale.edu/ycba

Yale University Art Gallery — New Haven, CT

• 1111 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511
• 203-432-0600
• http://artgallery.yale.edu/

 

Mattatuck Museum — Waterbury, CT

• 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702
• 203-753-0381
• https://www.mattmuseum.org/

 

Florence Griswold Museum — Old Lyme, CT

• 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371
• (860) 434-5542
• http://www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org

Lyman Allyn Art Museum — New London, CT

• 625 Williams Street , New London, CT 06320
• 860.443.2545
• http://www.lymanallyn.org

Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich Free Academy Campus — Norwich, CT

• 108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT 06360
• 860-887-2506
• http://www.slatermuseum.org/

The William Benton Museum of Art, University of CT — Storrs, CT

• 245 Glenbrook Rd, Storrs, CT 06269
• 860-486-4520
• http://www.benton.uconn.edu/

 

Art Museum at the University of Saint Joseph — West Hartford, CT

• 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06177
• 860-231-5399
• http://www.usj.edu/artmuseum

Hill-Stead Museum — Farmington, CT

• 35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT 06032
• (860) 677-4787
• http://www.hillstead.org

New Britain Museum of American Art — New Britain, CT

• 56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT 06052
• 860-229-0257
• http://www.nbmaa.org/

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art — Hartford, CT

• 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
• 860-278-2670
• https://thewadsworth.org/