April 2018
publicationsÂŽ
www.inkct.com
Vol 14 Issue 149 2018
A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.
Complimentary
THE SMARTER CHOICE FOR
FROM LEFT
Chia-Chi Wang, D.O. Middlesex Hospital Cancer Surgeon Kristen Zarfos, M.D. Middlesex Hospital Breast Surgeon Andrea Malon, M.D. Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center Medical Director, Breast/General Surgeon
Our Team of Expert Breast Surgeons Is Now Stronger Than Ever Middlesex Hospital is proud to welcome back nationally recognized breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Kristen Zarfos. She joins our trusted team of breast surgeons and cancer specialists—all backed by the knowledge and research of the cancer experts at Mayo Clinic—to bring world-class cancer care closer to home for Connecticut women. middlesexhospital.org/breastsurgeons
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www.inkct.com
Features
APRIL 2018
Columns, Reviews, Events
ISSUE CONTENTS
Music Mirth & Mojo Recent releases not to be missed
“Impulsive Necessities” Come “Experience” The Bowerbird!
pg. 8
pg. 22
Cardinal Points The Killer
pg. 24
The Cheesemonger Not All Cheeses Are Created Equal
pg. 66
The Cupping Room Deep Steamed Japanese Green Tea
pg. 66
On The Vine Alsace
pg. 68
April Events Scotch Plains Tavern
pg. 70
Upcoming events in Connecticut
The Newest Word of Mouth... is Just a Smile Away
pg. 16
The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library A Rare Find in New Haven
pg. 26
A Long Time Coming Flock Theater and Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night
pg. 36
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INK staff Contributors:
Advertising:
Jeffery Lilly- founder/publisher/webmaster
Contact us to receive our media kit complete with detailed advertising information including ad rates, demographics, and distribution in your area.
Tell Me a Story 37th Annual Storytelling Festival This Month at Conn College
Carolyn Battisa - editorial
pg. 44
Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography
Stephanie Sittnick - publisher/sales/design Susan Cornell - editorial Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Charmagne Eckert - editorial Ali Kaufman - Music, Mirth, and Mojo Mark Seth Lender - Cardinal Points Nancy LaMar-Rodgers - editorial
A World Tour at the UConn Greenhouses
Barbara Malinsky - editorial
The Lovely, the Tasty, the Stinky and More...
Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger
pg. 50
We encourage the public to submit stories, poems, photography, essays, and all things creative. If you know of a person or place of interest, please submit your ideas to: submissions@ink-pub.com We will do our best to put your ideas in INK.
Rona Mann - editorial
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A. Vincent Scarano - photography Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink. All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by INK Publishing, LLC. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Ink Publishing, LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.
INK PUBLISHING, LLC - 71 Maple Avenue, Old Saybrook, CT. 06475 general inquiries: info@ink-pub.com editorial: submissions@ink-pub.com
LaVigna Associates Hertz Construction
RElove YOUR VIEW
RingsEnd.com
800 390 1000
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S AY B R O O K
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“BEST GELATO AND CAPPUCCINO WITHIN 100 MILES” proclaimed one Yelp reviewer
Serving Breakfast, Lunch, & Co ee Tuesday – Sunday | 8:00 – 5:00 Authentic Italian pastries, baked on the premises daily Fritattas and breakfast sandwiches made to order
See our Menu at Ca eMarche.com
860.581.3878 2 Pennywise Lane, Old Saybrook, CT Like us on
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Home of Impulsive Necessities Old Lyme Marketplace
860.434.3562
. . . e g a l l i v a s e t tak to bloom this spring Shop. Dine. Stroll through over 40 unique shops and eateries.
www.thebowerbird.com
EVENTS:
Sidewalk sale (APRIL 27 - 29)
Mark your calendars – plan a day for Spring Clearance Shopping at Olde Mistick Village and enjoy savings galore!
open year round
Exit 90 off I-95 | 27 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT | 860.536.4941 | oldemistickvillage.com
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Ready for April Showers?
Luxury Gifts • Home Décor • Design Services
/adoremystic 26 West Main St. Mystic, CT
www.adore.world (860) 980-3908
It’ll only take an instant to feel right at home. But you can stay longer if you’d like. From the moment you walk in, you’ll be greeted with friendly smiles from people who are a lot like you. Each of them actively pursuing their retirement goals – whether that means taking a class or just meeting new people. Join us for a trial stay of up to 3 months* and see how many friends you’ll make.
Call 860.245.9972 for more details. *Some restrictions apply. Talk to a sales counselor for complete details.
186 JERRY BROWNE ROAD I MYSTIC, CT 06355 WWW.STONERIDGELCS.COM
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Please Join us at our Grand Opening! Where: 500 Main Street Suite 6 Deep River
When: Friday April 27th 5-7 p.m.
Interior Design Showroom and Workroom Located in Deep River CT eileenandtaylor.com
860-399-9754
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11 whimsical, beautiful, and fanciful items. It’s not the gift wrapping, not the huge parking lot, nor the sales that entice you to come in and peek around.
Come “Experience” The Bowerbird! By LEE HARRIS / Photos by Jeffery Lilly
O
ver the past 29 years Chris Kitchings, owner of The Bowerbird, has invested in an inventory that represents more than 2000 vendors from all over the country; but in actuality, she has always invested first and foremost in people.
That’s the secret to Kitchings’ success. It’s not merely the fantastic array of merchandise you simply can’t find anywhere else. It’s not the 4500 square feet of practical, fun,
While all these contribute to making The Bowerbird thoroughly unique and deliciously enjoyable, it is the complete and total investment in its customers that powers this business and keeps it going year after year, despite the rise in internet shopping, despite inclement weather, despite changes in the economy. None of this is accidental since Chris Kitchings wisely knew 29 years ago that The Bowerbird would above all be established for the joy, pleasure, and practicality of her customers. She would buy her inventory with her customers in mind; and would always, always have a wide variety of price points, so men, women, and children alike could enjoy the experience of The Bowerbird, regardless of any budget constraints. It’s also Kitchings’ philosophy of how customers should be treated, one she wisely instills in her employees, many of whom have been with The Bowerbird for as many as 15 or 17 years. “We don’t swoop down on customers,” Chris begins. “We greet them
and let them know we’re here if they have a question or need help, but we let them take the time to enjoy the experience of The Bowerbird at their own pace.” Smart lady. Indeed her well-trained staff gets to know customers quickly and by name since so many of them return again and again for gift-giving
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Office Manager Kirsten Fedors and friend
or for their own pleasure because The Bowerbird is not just another gift shop. “If it were, we wouldn’t still be here after all these years. The Bowerbird is an experience- a destination- we work hard to make it and keep it a fun one.” Every retail business owner today has to face the daunting challenge of competing with the internet. Chris Kitchings wisely doesn’t try to compete; she tries to carve out her own niche
and promote its uniqueness her own way. “How do you search online if you don’t know what you’re looking for?” she asks. “Using the internet may be efficient when you know exactly what you want, but in this day and age if you’re shopping for a gift for someone else, you very often don’t know what you’re looking for. He or she may be one of those people who have everything, so where do you start?”
color and design for both men and women alike. If you love magnets, plaques, mugs, and paper items, they’ve got those emblazoned with what Chris terms “snarky” sayings. Love to garden or know someone who does? The
You start at The Bowerbird! That person for whom you’re looking may have everything; but chances are they don’t have an “impulsive necessity,” the expression Kitchings trademarked years ago and the standard to which everything she buys for The Bowerbird’s inventory is held. “I want to sell things that are both fun and functional as well. People like to own things that both bring them joy and yet are functional,” Kitchings offers. Take a tour around The Bowerbird, and you might just find those great new compression socks that Chris brought back from the Las Vegas gift show. Designed by a company from Montana, they are not merely for the infirm, but for anyone who spends a long day on their feet. They’re warm, functional, and best of all come in a crazy quilt assortment of
Bowerbird has garden “stuff” and accessories because yes, we really are headed into spring! Book lovers will delight in finding tomes penned by both local authors and those notso-local who really have something to say; and who doesn’t love cards? Chris has so many different lines that cover even occasions you weren’t aware of...it’s a mini-card store within a store. Leather and faux leather handbags, wallets, credit
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card cases, and accessories always make a wonderful gift, along with favorite hobo bags and tote bags. And how about soap rocks (not sure what they are? Then get to The Bowerbird and ask to see them. What a great hostess gift or addition to your own guest bath) along with anti-fog shower mirrors, razors holders, and toiletry organizers that really hold fast WITHOUT suction cups. Keep walking, this place is huge! Right there are summer dresses, infinity scarves, and just inside the door, toys that are both educational as well as just for fun. Top off your tour with some chocolate. Delicious chocolates in both big bars and little bites...need we say more? But yes, there is more. Bath bombs to turn your
bath into a spa experience when you deserve a long soak and a whole lot of pampering, Vera Bradley, because some things never go out of style, kitchen stuff and kitschy stuff, and how about those new rope doormats with a lifetime guarantee? Some smart shoppers look to The Bowerbird strictly for jewelry from the elegant to the outlandish, but always in great taste, as are the new fancy walking canes with hand crafted tops for those Baby Boomers who refuse to “go gentle into that good night!” Wrap it all up with Bowerbird’s gift wrapping service, and watch your small donation become a large one as each year Kitchings donates 50% of the gift wrapping receipts to a local organization. Since 1992 The Bowerbird has donated over $87,000 to 30 statewide and local non-profits. This May marks The Bowerbird’s 29th anniversary; and although it may not be perceived as one of those “landmark” anniversaries – one of those that we make a fuss over every five years – it is indeed a big deal. It’s a landmark, not just to longevity, but to the hundreds of thousands of people who have come through those doors. And it is testament to the ones who continue to come through those doors because they wisely know shopping
online may allow you to sit home in your pajamas, but shopping at The Bowerbird allows you get out to have an experience, to have fun, and to share it. And Chris doesn’t care if you want to shop in your pajamas! Now that’s a true landmark. Come discover The Bowerbird all over again. It’s in The Old Lyme Marketplace, 46 Halls Road, Old Lyme. www. thebowerbird.com (860) 434-3276
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All Your Wedding Dreams Come True-
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Ashleighs Garden
The Green Florist 860-767-2889 โ ข 500 Main Street Deep River, CT
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Joi Join JoJoin us u ffor fo
SUNDAY
Brunch in The in The Riverview Th Ri Riv Rive River Riverv Rivervi Rivervie R Room Ro Roo R at at T Th The Lac Lace L La Factor Factory Fac Fact Facto F Fa
It's a Match!
oov overl ove overlooki overlook overlo overloo overlooking overlookin ver th t rriver the ri riv and rive a stea an s st ste steam tra train train! t tr trai from 10:00 - 2:00PM (last seating at 1pm)
$24.95 Adults $12.95 Kids 10 & under INCLUDES: Brunch buffet, omelet bar, carving station, and added surprises by Cloud Nine Catering!
WRITTEN BY
*Specialty drinks, featured sparkling wines, Bloody Marys, Mimosas available for purchase.
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RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Cloudninecatering.net PH:(860)526.4445 www.thelacefactory.com
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APRIL 25 - MAY 13
The Riverview Room - 161 River Street Deep River, CT
The Riverview Room is also available for private parties year round!
R I V E R
F R A M E S
MARY MAGUIRE & STEVEN McGRAW
FOR TICK ETS , VIS IT IVORYTONPLAYHOUS E.OR G
1 0 3 MA I N ST RE E T | I V O RYT O N , C T 0 6 4 4 2 | 8 6 0 . 7 6 7 . 7 3 1 8
F I N E
A R T
F R A M I N G
Create the Perfect Atmosphere for your Art Treasures • Fine Art and Custom Made Framing • Frame Cleaning and Repair • Oil Painting Rejuvenation Services Cleaning Patching and Inpainting of Repaired Areas
Varnishing Open Wednesday – Saturday: 10 – 5 Or by Appointment Tel: 860. 526. 1137 The Red Barn at 25 Maple Street, Chester www.riverframes.com
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The Newest Word of Mouth Scotch Plains Tavern...is Just a Smile Away by RONA MANN / photos courtesy Scotch Plains Tavern The first thing you’ll notice is that smile.
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t begins the moment the door of the restaurant opens, the moment he sees you and warmly greets you, and it is that smile that never, ever leaves his face. Why? Because it’s genuine, starting deep within the very innards of this man, yet bursting forth frequently in an unbridled expression of total joy. The man is Fred Autorino, and the restaurant is Scotch Plains Tavern, just four months old in an historic Essex location, but making an enormous splash on the shoreline nevertheless; and as word quickly spreads, throughout the rest of Connecticut. The site of the former and popular old chestnut, Oliver’s Taverne, the property had “gotten old,” according to Autorino, having sat unoccupied for close to three years. Fred had been looking around for several years because
that fire in his belly that never seems to quit was powering him in the direction of a second restaurant. But it had to be just the right location. “I grew up in Hartford, but spent every summer down here. I love the shoreline corridor and have felt for a long time that the market here has been under-served.” So, not just any property would work for Autorino. “I wanted something that was alive.” “Alive” is very important to this man, a word that peppers his conversation frequently. In the hospitality business it has to be a venue and an atmosphere that is not only welcoming and comfortable, but a place with wide appeal encompassing every demographic, a place with price points for every occasion, and a place where something must always be happening.
He found all of that and more in the property he turned into Scotch Plains Tavern after an almost two year building process and had a soft opening December 12, 2017. “At 2PM that afternoon we posted on Facebook that we were going to open at 3PM just for Happy Hour. One hour later, there was a line at the door. The power of social media is amazing!” Fred said with his trademark grin. After acquiring the property Autorino’s first call was to Robin Reed, a designer with whom he had worked previously, whose vision he both admires and respects. He directed her to
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Photos by Stephanie Sittnick
create a restaurant, bar, and banquet facility in an updated tavern aesthetic, with more than a nod to the former establishment whose local roots were not only historical in this Scotch Plains section of Essex, but legend. Reed delivered...in spades.
A massive center hall staircase paves the way to the second floor (however the restaurant is fully accessible and has a brand new elevator
Fred calls the purposeful design “Modern Industrial.” The wooden planks on the ceiling and knotty pine walls sport the original wood which has been repurposed in a modern rustic style. A large stone fireplace sets the tone on one wall of the downstairs dining area, complemented by custom designed giant iron chandeliers. The hostess station is filled with illuminated scotch bottles, giving off an amber glow that lends perfectly to the ambiance. Throughout there are murals depicting images from the past: the railway, the old Connecticut Valley Manufacturing Company, and more signs and memorabilia from the early 20th century.
for those who wish a “lift”). This upper level is truly “alive” with a billiards room featuring pool and shuffleboard, and then there’s that
bar area...massive, with a circa 1913 bar from the old Wentworth Hotel in Chicago where it is rumored Al Capone imbibed more than a few. Look closely and you might even see some bullet holes! Wall to wall HD screens line the bar area with plenty of room for booths and tables in the large dining area that shares this warm and welcoming space. Now for the food that will really make you smile! If you’re looking for a quiet, upscale meal, you may elect to sit downstairs and enjoy hand cut steaks, chops, fresh seafood, or even pasta Bolognese. Prefer to partake of the tavern menu upstairs for a more casual experience? You’ll find everything from tavern chips and fried green tomatoes, to buffalo shrimp, artisan wood fire flatbreads, corned beef hash, fish & chips, burgers, club sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, and FUN!
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We usually feature about a dozen at a time with the emphasis on our local producers.”
Scotch Plains features a very popular Happy Hour every Monday thru Friday from 3-6PM, musical entertainment upstairs on Friday nights that won’t “fight” your conversation, but add to your good time, and drink specials that the talented bartenders just keep turning out. And then there’s the beer. “People are really into craft beer these days,” Autorino says, “so we are constantly rotating a variety.
There’s also a well appointed private space for conferences, meetings, showers, parties, or just general carousing. Once you see and experience Scotch Plains Tavern you won’t have to work hard to think up an occasion to book this private space...the restaurant, the ambiance, the food, and most especially the people just sell this place every time you come in. Doesn’t matter if it’s just a quick drink and an appetizer after work, a lunch with friends, or a leisurely, romantic dinner in the soft glow of the downstairs fireplace, you’re going to find a lot of reasons to come back and to recommend this charming venue again and again. It is said you can’t beat word of mouth, and this is no exception. The only problem you’re going to have when you visit Scotch Plains Tavern is figuring out which individual is Fred Autorino because there are so many genuine smiles in this place: from the ladies at the reception desk,
to General Manager, Curtis Johnson, to the waitstaff, bartenders, and happy people dining and enjoying beverages...Scotch Plains is just one big smile! Don’t miss Scotch Plains Tavern located at 124 Westbrook Road (Rt. 153) in Essex, not just another restaurant. www.scotchplainstavern.com (860) 662-4032
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Music, Mirth & Mojo by Ali Kaufman
Grab Your Sunglasses... You're Gonna Need Them!
Marcia Ball Shines Bright By Ali Kaufman
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etting to speak with Marcia Ball gives me the same feeling you get when you take that first bubbly sip of champagne. You can’t help but crinkle with a giggle listening to her speaking voice and drinking in the positivity
I asked about the catalyst of this new record, and her answer was classic Marcia Ball. “Well, it was about damn time to make it!” She went on to say that, “I think now more than ever we need to perform acts of aggressive good....at every opportunity do good, celebrate positivity, that is what this album is about.” Now, who can argue with that? Shine Bright is produced by Steve Berlin, sax player with Los Lobos, who also lends his musicianship to the album. It was recorded in Texas and Louisiana where she had Roddie Romero from the Hub City All Stars join her on a song called “A Little Louisiana.” Her admiration for Roddie was obvious as she noted his album Gulf Stream as one of her all time favorite records. As excited as she is about the release, she seemed to me
Photo courtesy Bob Adamek
she exudes. If you are unfamiliar with Miss Marcia, then get ready to pop the cork on a most delicious vintage, five decades in the making to be exact. If you are already a fan, then you are about to get your fill of her brand new release Shine Bright on Alligator Records, out on April 20th.
to be even more looking forward to bringing the new songs to her live performances. Her longtime fans will jump for joy as she opens the shows with her rollicking new tunes. There are twelve songs in all, nine originals that deliver some cheeky advice from “Life of the Party,” to the optimistic call to action of “Pots
Photo courtesy Bob Adamek
and Pans,” inspired by Texas political writer, Molly Ivins. The latter includes the line, “Nothing’s gonna change until we get out there and bang some pots and pans”...so true. “These are songs that get you out there dancing, feeling fine. But then you stop and say,“Wait - what did she just say?” Miss Ball elaborated. Isn’t the medicine always more
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Martha Ball perfoming with Dr. John Photo courtesy Bob Adamek
palatable when delivered with a spoonful of sugar? I definitely think so, and I dare say you will agree after hearing the album.
look up to, and you make us feel like girls again when your music takes hold. Cheers to your brand new album and your incredibly bright road ahead.
This year Marcia Ball is going out on tour as the newly anointed Texas Musician of the Year 2018. This is a great honor bestowed by the State Legislature of Texas that makes the events she plays all the more special, and she hopes to do some good with it. When I asked more about the responsibilities that the title brings Marcia quipped, “Well, it really is ceremonial, I think the fear is that liberal musicians might start acting out if given any official platform.” Doesn’t sound like she faults them at all. Congratulations on adding another accolade to the already extensive list that includes six Living Blues Awards, nine Blues Music Awards out of an incredible 42 nominations, and Five Grammy Award nominations to name just a few!
Enjoy expanding your musical horizons, support live music and keep your mojo flowing!
My advice is catch her where you can, you will not be disappointed. Marcia frequently stops in Westerly Rhode Island at the Knickerbocker or on the festival scene where she is slated to once again play Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Festival in Augusta, New Jersey. You will never get enough of her trademark cross legged piano playing and sassy vocals. If you want an extra helping, I suggest you check out Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise which Marcia has been part of for over 20 years. I can vouch for her description of this annual adven-
I hope you will look forward to seeing what I’ll have in future issues, and thank you for being the most important part of this fine publication - our Photo by Mary Bruton reader. I am proud to be a part of the team and anticipate bringing you more terrific reasons to ture as both a family reunion and a backstage pass that allows you extraordinary access to reach for Ink time after time.
some of your favorite musicians. You are all on the boat together, sharing meals and activities with some of today’s greatest musical acts. Of special note on the 2018 sailing in January, Marcia mentioned the Fabulous Thunderbirds first appearance with good friend Kim Wilson and some crowd pleasing jam sessions with Curtis Salgado. If you do go, Do NOT miss Marcia’s Piano-Rama that she morphed from New Orleans to the high seas. It is a goosebump inducing stage filled with five pianos that the players rotate through. This year they had 17 in all with Marcia leading the way with very dear friend Red Young. Ah, Red...he will be his own column in a future edition; he is a treasure. Thank you Marcia Ball for the 50 years of music and mirth you have given us thus far. You are someone we want our daughters to
Ali Kaufman
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A Rare Find in New Haven: The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library Profile and Photographs, except where noted, By Caryn B. Davis
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umankind’s quest for knowledge is as old as civilization itself. The need to understand, learn, teach, invent, and expand is intrinsic to our nature. Throughout history people have drawn, written, recorded, documented, preserved, and passed on this knowledge through ancient inscriptions, books, manuscripts, music, art, scientific research, technology, and now digital media. Libraries are often the repositories that hold this information on our behalf - information that tells the story of our universal history while providing a window into the past. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library located on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was established to help foster this purpose. Its collection is comprised of millions of rare books, early manu-
papyri, art scripts, objects, maps, postcards, paintings, photographs, ephemera, and much more from pre-1500 to the present. It also includes the 1742 Library of Yale College, which contains the earliest books held by Yale. They welcome scholars, students, researchers, and visitors from Yale and everywhere else and are free and open to the public seven days a week. “Every Saturday we offer an introductory tour led by staff for the general public,” says Michael Morand, Communications Director for the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University. “We recognize that rare book libraries are things that not everybody knows about. They can be the kind of places where
Photo courtesy Beinecke Library
Photo courtesy Beinecke Library
people wonder if they are allowed in. Here, all are welcome.” Established in 1963, the library’s building and endowment was the bequest of three brothers and their families, Edwin J. Beinecke, Frederick W. Beinecke and Walter Beinecke, all of whom graduated from Yale. The building was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft and is made of granite, bronze, glass, and marble that allows light in, while protecting the contents from harmful rays. The exterior
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facade is comprised of 15 large blocks - 5 vertical and 10 horizontal - to mirror the golden ratio, as many ancient buildings and early books possessed these harmonious proportions. The interior is graced with a six-story glass encased tower at the building’s center that holds 180,000 volumes. The remaining works are stored in underground stacks whose mass equals an entire city block in length. After the Beinecke opened, the collections continued to evolve and grow through many notable purchases and donations. For example, the Yale papyri collection contains papyri from Ancient Egypt that was excavated and gifted by English Egyptologist, W. M. F. Petrie. It was added onto over the years to include papyri found at Dura-Europos, a Hellenistic, Parthian, and Roman border city on the bank of the Euphrates River in southern Syria. The papyri are written in Greek, Latin, Arabic, Demotic (a simplified form of ancient Egyptian hieratic writing), and Coptic (an Afroasiatic language of Egypt descended from ancient Egyptian, but not spoken since the 16th century).
In 1967, Philanthropist Paul Mellon donated a collection of 330 alchemical books and manuscripts. (A year earlier Mellon gave his personal collection of British art, the building in which to house it, and the endowment to preserve it, to Yale with the founding of Yale Center for British Art).
There is a collection of manuscripts, letters, and photographs of author Edith Wharton known for novels such as “Ethan Frome” and “The Age of Innocence.”` Wharton was awarded the prestigious 1921 Pulitzer Prize for literature for the latter and was the first woman to receive this great honor.
Other highlights include letters from renowned photographer, Alfred Stieglitz to his wife, artist Georgia O’Keefe; drawings by William H. Townsend of prisoners from the slave ship Amistad as they awaited trial in New Haven for mutiny, murder, and piracy; Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts documenting the history of human thought from the Byzantine era through 1600; the first edition of James Joyce’s “Ulysses;” one of 26 known copies of the first printing of the Declaration of Independence by John Dunlap in Philadelphia on July 4 1776, and more. “There are things that are rare because they are extremely old or one of a kind, and other materials become rare because of how they’ve been used. For example, we have the prayer book, psalm, and book of hours that belonged to Thomas Moore while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London awaiting execution. The book is not that unusual; but his annotations, and what were to be his last words - this prayer he writes in this contemplation - is an irreplaceable, singular rare document,” explains Morand. “We also have a collection of African American travel guides from the Jim Crow era
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Gutenberg Bible
of the American south and nation as a whole. Many of those would have been produced in great quantities; but most were thrown away, so now they are considered rare.” In addition to being a library and research center, the Beinecke functions as a museum and has rotating exhibitions such as the Art of Collaboration featuring The Children’s Books of Russell and Lillian Hoban and Richard Wright’s Native Son on Stage and Screen; and Text and Textile, which explores the intersections of texts and textiles in literature and politics. This enables the library to share other parts of their vast collection that would otherwise remain unseen. “We have on display currently a heavily annotated edition of James Joyce’s “Finnegans Wake” by the 20th century American poet Delmore Schwartz. You get a window into what this text meant to Schwartz and what he did with it. The first editions of “Finnegans Wake” certainly are more collectible, but nowhere else will you see this extraordinary annotation by Delmore Schwartz. That is irreplaceable,” says Morand.
They also have four permanent exhibits that include John James Audubon’s “Birds of America,” the 1742 Library of Yale College, a collection of incunabula, the earliest printed books in the West, from 1455 to ca. 1500, and a 1455 copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the first
major book printed in the world using movable metal type. The invention of the printing press meant that books could now be massproduced, allowing for the rapid dissemination of information. Of the original 180 copies printed, only 40 remain with 10 in the United States.
“People often ask what’s its monetary value, and I say it doesn’t have one. We are not selling it. Its value is in the use and the way people engage with it, which is true of all the materials here,” says Morand. “It’s a gorgeous volume. Gutenberg was an artist and innovator. He developed typeface and ink that could adhere to paper. This bible is extraordinary from an informational, technological, historical, and sociological sense. It’s an important document in human culture, and people come here specifically to see it.” The Beinecke is accessible online as well and has digitized more than 2 million images including the entire Gutenberg Bible. They are an active center for teaching with 500 classes a year being taught onsite by Yale and by other local institutions. They offer lectures, concerts, conferences, symposiums, tours, and other cultural events to enrich the Yale population and the community at large, just as the Beinecke Brothers had intended. For more information log onto http://beinecke.library.yale.edu.
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Photos courtesy Beinecke Library
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A Long Time Coming Flock Theater and Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Nancy LaMar-Rodgers / photos by Vincent Scarano
39 Eugene O’Neill’s New London includes The Thames Club as one of the historical places to visit, given that O’Neill’s father, James was a founding member. Derron goes on to explain that because the long version of Long Day’s Journey takes place in real time, he has provided audience members the opportunity to explore various landmarks and haunts of O’Neill’s New London. The Thames Club is perhaps the most prized place to visit.
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ntering the Thames Club on State Street in New London is intimidating. Not only is its entrance tucked away, but one must be let in by a member. Once inside, the handsomely dark wooden staircase, the crystal chandeliers, and the richness of the furnishings take you back to a bygone age, a gilded age, an age of appearance and opulence. I am here to talk with Flock Theater about their upcoming performance of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Derron Wood, Flock’s executive artistic director and assistant artistic director, Victor Chiburis share with me a recent discovery at the club. “We recently found James O’Neill’s tile in the basement here. All of the founding members have profile tiles going back to the 1800s. It was pretty cool considering we are now doing this particular play.”
“If you know the play, O’Neill’s father - when he leaves the house and says he is going to ‘the club’ - this is exactly where he means. The play has all of these references, so for an audience member to be able to stand in the actual place that is referenced, even during the break, the experience of the play becomes that much more tangible, that much more real.” Wood explains. For O’Neill’s father, these rooms, these barstools, this staircase is where the patriarch escaped when the pressures of home life and his own failings were no longer tolerable. This piece of history is incrementally important not only when you look at the details of the play, but more so when you look at the time period and the social structures. New London may be a microcosm of the two major metropolises that it is sandwiched between, but it did produce America’s most notable Nobel Prize
winning playwright. It is here that O’Neill’s views on society and subsequent commentary began to take form. For Flock Theater this project has been years in the making and certainly a labor of love for this group of players. The idea started germinating
40 shows; and what these places taught us was that these spaces, these settings really become a character. These intimate settings add a whole new layer.” It was after working in these spaces that Flock Theater decided to look again at O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night and the possibility of making it happen at the Monte Cristo.
when Wood was a student at Connecticut College and was working on the O’Neill Centennial in 1988. “We had been doing readings of other plays and works at the Monte Cristo Cottage, and I just had this idea about how cool it would be to do the play in the cottage where it actually takes place. Years later when I brought Flock Theater from Boston to New London, I pitched the idea to the Monte Cristo.” Wood explains that at the time he didn’t get much in the way of an enthusiastic “yes,” and that the Monte Cristo seemed to need to mull it over. Meanwhile, Flock continued exploring other works and venues. “We were doing a great deal of museum work at that time and performing in these smaller spaces, like the Shaw Mansion, The Hempstead Houses, and The Florence Griswold. We were doing these intimate
Victor and Derron explain, “we went back to them, and it was as if this was a completely new idea; they were so excited to have us do it. The only problem was that when we went to apply for the rights, there was a pending Broadway production with Jessica Lange, and we couldn’t get the rights at that time.” This did not deter Flock; so when the rights did finally become available, they couldn’t have signed up fast enough. What had been just an idea thirty years back was finally coming to fruition, and for Derron and Victor this was the manifestation of the long held belief of what theater should and can be.
much so that it is right down to where light switches are, entrances are, and when someone leaves on the porch, you are able to see it. When Mary goes up and down the stairs, you
“It is the peak for this kind of experiential theater. It is being performed not only in the house where the play takes place, but also in the room where the play takes place, with the audience sitting from the vantage point the way O’Neill wrote it. So
are able to see it and hear it,” Wood explains, his excitement palpable. Actor Christie Williams, who plays the character of O’Neill’s father, James Tyrone adds, “the sound is so realistic to what was actually happening in the house at the time that when the characters are listening to Mary rummaging through things upstairs, the audience hears the rummaging. There is no need for sound effects as might be necessary in a large theater. There’s no need for the actors to pretend they are hearing the creaking of the stairs as she descends, because we are hearing it and the audience
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Above Left to right, Victor Chiburis, Eric Michaelian, Amy Mellissa Bentley, Lucretia Anne Flammang, Christie Williams.
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is hearing and feeling it. We’ve had audience members report that it was hair raising for them.” This experiential nature, this heightened sense of disturbance, this hair raising on the back of your neck response, is what Flock set out to do; and giving O’Neill’s work justice comes in the form of recreating that day down to the very essence of the light, the sound, and the receptive nature of human beings dependent upon the hour of the day. The hope for Flock Theater is that the audience will have an experience that they would otherwise never get in any traditional theatrical setting as well as an event that could require debriefing and reflection afterwards. Certainly something more than a post theater critique over dinner. With a limit of 27 seats and such tight quarters, those in attendance become in essence, a human collective, a crew of strangers, who are strapping themselves in to share an emotional roller-coaster ride. As I sit in on a rehearsal of Act 4, my senses are consumed by the space: its aging woody smell, its settling dust, its fading afternoon light, sprawling itself across the parlor
rug, the voices of the O’Neill family echoing within the walls. O’Neill’s play is a snapshot of hardcore family dysfunction. It collides all of the elements into one long, hot summer day where the compilation of ugliness, imperfection, excitement, yearning, compassion, fear, and frailty that comprise the human condition are exposed. Flock Theater will be performing two versions of Long Day’s Journey Into Night. For those audience members ready to take on the marathon, the day begins at 9 AM. and ends at
approximately 9PM, adhering to what could be considered the literal passing of time for this play. This journey is not for the faint of heart in that audience members have been known to be moved to extreme emotional release, but like any emotional experience, it is usually worth it, once safely on the other side. For information regarding all of the performances, please check out: https://www.flocktheatre.org/long-days-journey
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Tell Me a Story 37th Annual Storytelling Festival This Month at Conn College by Rona Mann / Photos courtesy CT Storytellers “Once upon a time”…
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emember those words? They always heralded the beginning of something exciting from the time you were little. It was a much anticipated portend of adventure. It meant something funny, silly, mysterious, or exciting was about to happen. It titillated your imagination, opened wide your mind, and made bedtime something special to look forward to and not hated. It was...a story. For years people have always been drawn to stories and storytellers, all of which take different forms; and that in itself makes the experience all the more exciting. Stories define who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going. They are an integral part of every culture worldwide, helping us to identify our roots and at the same time allowing us an opportunity to put down new ones. Stories may inform, persuade, entertain, frighten, celebrate, demonstrate, but always stories forge a connection with the people to whom they are told.
Stories are listened to with our ears, but are heard with our eyes, our senses, and most especially with our imagination. Tell a story to ten different people; and they will see at least ten different characters, get ten different messages, feel different emotions, and have at least ten different opinions! All of us are a story, have a story within us, and keep writing and rewriting it our whole life long. Ann Shapiro’s story began in New Rochelle, New York. As a young girl she wanted to be a teacher, but by the time she got to high school she realized she hated school. What she did love, however, was music, having taken piano lessons. But the rebel in her wasn’t much good at learning the notes and scales her teacher had in mind; instead Ann did it her way, learning to play by ear. By age 13 she added guitar to her repertoire and began playing and singing folk music, the popular musical genre of the day. By the time Shapiro reached adulthood she found herself working in schools, but not as a
traditional classroom teacher. Instead, she was teaching kids to learn to listen through music. “I ran off lyrics for them and taught them to speak and visualize through song. If you can’t visualize and speak fluently, you can never really read or write.” Ann married Tom Callinan who was likeminded, and together the duo performed folk music. It was during a gig that Shapiro met Barbara Reed, a professor of children’s literature who was the founder of the Connecticut Storytelling Center. “It was she
48 “Children have such rich imaginations that storytelling just speaks to that fact;” still Ann is concerned. “Computers have squelched kids’ imaginations. We are therefore slowly losing our culture.” The program, established in 1988 is fully financed by grants and is continuous, with many storytellers visiting schools as often as once a week. Shapiro adds, “We could use more African American and Hispanic storytellers for these programs, so if anyone’s interested, they should give us a call.” Each Fall brings Tellabration, where the CSC partners with libraries, churches, parks and rec departments, and any organization that would like a program that might appeal to their particular audience.
who told me, ‘You don’t realize it, but you’re a storyteller.’ That comment is what piqued our interest and got us into storytelling.” Today Ann Shapiro is Executive Director of the Connecticut Storytelling Center, now a 501C3 non-profit that as a part of Connecticut College has grown and flourished for more than 35 years. Although Barbara Reed has since passed on, her presence is still strongly felt, most especially with the Storytelling Festival she founded some 37 years ago. The Festival has since grown into a major event taking place this year over a 2 ½ day period April 27-29th right at the Crozier-Williams Student Center on campus. The Festival has been carefully planned, geared for everyone: novices, old pros, those who are curious and wondering if they might have a story or two in
them, or just those who want to sit back and enjoy tales, embracing a myriad of cultures and experiences. There will be plenty of belly laughs, nods of affirmation of like experience, and perhaps even some tears, both joyous and wistful ones. But one thing is certain: no one who attends the Storytelling Festival will be bored! In addition to actual performances, there are ongoing workshops on Saturday, an informal Story Swap at the Groton Inn on Sunday morning, and lots of networking. While the Festival is their main focus right now, the CSC has an ongoing school program where some 40-50 storytellers of all different ethnicities, cultures, and background experiences actively work with K through 5th grade students in the classroom, engaging them through stories and giving them assignments, thus helping to promote literacy while helping them learn to listen, speak, read, and write more e f f e c t i v e l y .
The power of a story doesn’t have to be fiction; in fact some of our very best stories are the ones we weave every day. How we see the past, how we envision the future...those are stories. Stories go far beyond relating facts and information; they emotionalize information. They add color and depth to otherwise uninteresting material, allowing people to connect with the message in a more meaningful way. And the good stories...the really good ones that are are part of a family’s patchwork, live on to be told and retold down through the generations. Sure, the details
may become altered and “rewritten” over time, but that just makes them all the richer, more personal, and more interesting so they are told again and again. “We have to put what we all know together,” Ann concludes. “Let’s share our stories.” That might just make us all live happily ever after. For more information on the Connecticut Storytelling Center or how you can attend any or all parts of this year’s festival, visit www.connstorycenter.org (860) 439-2764
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Connecticut Storytelling Festival Schedule FRIDAY, April 27th 7:30 - 9:30PM Entertainment for Grownups with wine and refreshments Original stories and songs (blues, jazz, Celtic, and folk) Teller: Dovie Thomason...Indian Space Cadet Headliner: Donald Davis...Come Home with Me SATURDAY, April 28th 9AM - 9PM A Gathering of Tellers Concert with Headliner, Donald Davis Ongoing Workshops throughout the morning and afternoon with Donald Davis and other tellers Performances throughout the day Music And lots more stories! SUNDAY, April 29th - Groton Inn & Suites 9AM-10:30AM Informal Story Swap To register: www.connstorycenter.org
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The Lovely, the Tasty, the Stinky and More: A World Tour at the UConn Greenhouses By Carolyn Battista / Photos by Vincent Scarano
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n a visit to the University of Connecticut greenhouses you might spot a rare plant from Tanzania, a cotton boll ready to burst open, or a banana ready to eat. You might touch papyrus fibers or pineapple leaves. You might sniff lovely scents, or perhaps at certain times, the unlovely aroma of a “corpse plant.” You’ll tour the world inside greenhouses that have some 2,500 species of plants on display from almost everywhere.
The greenhouses, which serve UConn classes, labs, and research, are also open to the public. Clinton Morse, manager of living collections, always urges people to drop in; they’re welcome whether they want to check out a few ferns or try to take it all in. He recalled how he once guided about a fellow from an academic
journal for several hours. On leaving, the fellow sighed. “We’ve just scratched the surface,” he said. Morse was now guiding visitors from Ink through the three greenhouses, all tucked behind the Torrey Life Sciences Building. Greenhouse sections hold plants from different areas, with different conditions and plants for various uses, like spice plants, medicinal plants, and fiber plants. “Every plant has a story,” Morse said. He was set to talk about exactly where plants grew, how they adapted to conditions, how they were used, and more. He’d even offer an occasional taste test. “This is tropical,” he said, as he headed into the first greenhouse, which is full of interesting and beautiful material from the tropics of Africa, Asia, and the New World (the Neotropics). He pointed to an Acridocarpus zanzibaricus, which is found in the wild only
in a small area in Tanzania and is too uncommon to have a common name. UConn’s specimens, originating from research at Harvard, may be the only ones now being cultivated anywhere. They bloom “quite regularly.” Coming upon a papyrus plant, Morse showed the pithy material inside that has been used for millennia to make parchment. “One of our undergrads made some papyrus parchment,” he said.
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In the Asian tropics he showed a tamarind plant (its extract is used in Worcestershire sauce), a pineapple plant with big, fan-shaped leaves that collect water (an example of adaptation to conditions), and a “miracle fruit” plant known for berries that when chewed, fend off any sour taste. You can chew the berries, then eat a lemon. Sour? Not at all (as was once demonstrated on Martha Stewart’s TV show). Morse also pointed out a banana tree (“We produce bananas to eat”) and spice plants like cardamom and cinnamon. Then came something less appealing, at least to us humans. “Here’s a couple of our corpse plants,” he said. “Flower comes up and smells like a corpse, yes. Smell attracts flies from four to five miles away.” It’s not a frequent event, but he seemed hopeful. “Maybe we’ll see this in a couple of years.” The Neo Tropics section included a cotton plant, a guava plant, and a little Wandering Cowpea, labeled Sigmoidotropis speciosa. The Wandering Cowpea’s pollination story goes like this: a bee goes in, digs in, gets pollen on
its abdomen, and continues on. There was also a “currant tomato” plant—the ancestor, Morse said, of many modern hybrid tomatoes. He handed out tiny, super-sweet currant tomatoes for tasting.
ered growing in a remote area of a national park in New South Wales, Australia. Now it’s cultivated in specialty collections. “It’s like from the dinosaurs’ backyard,” Morse said. This greenhouse also has a “xeric” section, for plants adapted to extremely dry habitats and a Mediterranean section. Ah, pomegranates, figs, olives…. The third greenhouse has orchids, ferns, and an additional tropical section. It’s home to a carnivorous pitcher plant native to Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Generally, a pitcher plant dines on insects, but might get a bigger meal when, say, “a mouse falls in and drowns.”
The second greenhouse has a “temperate room” with plants from areas in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States that have warm, humid summers and cold winters. This room has a Wollemia, a plant with a discovery story. The Wollemia was known only through fossil records until 1994, when it was discov-
Unlike the “regular” greenhouses, UConn’s experimental research greenhouse, on the top floor of the next-door biology/physics building, is closed to the general public. In this area faculty members and grad students conduct assorted projects, many of them long-term. Work currently underway includes a study of critically endangered plants in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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the greenhouses at some point. Biology students come, of course; so do art students, anthropology students, and others. There are regularly scheduled lab sessions, like a series of “leaf adaptation” and special projects, like that making of papyrus.
Big windows in the top-floor research outpost offer a view of the big problem confronting the greenhouses behind the life sciences building. All around are new buildings, with more construction going on nearby. It is a different scene from when these greenhouses were built in the early 1960s. Now, besides showing the effects of age - like vents that don’t work easily - these greenhouses “take a big hit,” as Morse put it, from all the new structures that keep them from getting the amount of light that they once did and that the plants need. But Morse didn’t spend a lot of time talking about problems. “I’m trained to grow things; I’m here to talk about plants,” he said. He came to the UConn greenhouses almost 25 years ago after getting a degree from Cornell and working in the horticulture industry. Ever since he arrived, he has aimed “to make our collections as diverse as possible and to reach as many people as possible.” “Now,” he said, “we probably have more diversity than any other greenhouse in the northeast United States.” He visits other botanical institutions, and UConn shares plant material with them. Colleagues elsewhere say, “You have one of those? I wish we had one!” More than half of UConn undergrads come to
Morse paused during the tour to exchange hellos with a young woman, a former employee who had dropped in with her two little kids to explore the plant world. Besides welcoming drop-ins, the staff can schedule tours for all kinds of groups...school groups (K-12), home schoolers, seniors, garden clubs; or perhaps weavers, interested in fiber plants and dye plants. Morse wants the greenhouses to help people appreciate biodiversity, see the value of protecting it, and understand the importance of passing appropriate legislation. There’s steady work here on public outreach; and the greenhouses’ website is kept packed with information, including an alphabetical listing of what’s in the collections (by Latin names), a “bench map” of what’s where, photos of what’s currently in bloom, and more. There are also greenhouse postings on Instagram and Facebook. Click the website’s Visiting tab for more info, Morse says. Then,
“Just drop in.” You’ll see plants from around the world (the Arctic, the Antarctic, and a few remote oceanic islands being among the few areas missing), and you might even catch a corpse flower in bloom. For more info: The website for the greenhouses is florawww.eeb.uconn.edu; morse’s email is clinton.morse@uconn.edu. The greenhouses are open 8 A M-4 PM, Monday through Friday and 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays, except on holidays. The address is 75 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3043.
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Hidden in the tall grass is a termite mound. She knows the place. Has used it before. Looks back. looks again (to be sure no one is watching) and in her long legged stride, climbs the steep sides and sits, head high, unblinking. In these flat lands height is mountain and redoubt. Vantage point is safety. Line of sight, command. Seeing first determines who will eat today and who will not and whom among the seen… will be eaten. The crocodile at water’s edge pretending to be stone; leopard dropping from an overhanging limb without a sound; lion stalking close and stealthy on the plain, for each and every one the eye is life or death.
Cat Vanishes Photos and editorial © Mark Seth Lender Out in the valley of the Maara, Cheetah is ready to rise. Yawns. Turns over belly up. Tucks her paws, cat-like, against the fuselage of her chest. That tail that is the length of her from hip to shoulder curls, and unwinds. And with the weightless grace of all her kind rolls, onto her paws and strolls in to the evening, that is day to her.
With Cheetah? The eye alone is not enough. Like light itself, Cheetah is a thing of speed! Speed is Cheetah’s second sight. Speed in short bursts is her edge, bright and sharp. Her claws wear, dulled and blunted to the stubby nails of a dog. Her jaws are weak, just wide enough for the small things she can run to ground. With Cheetah the chase is everything. Cheetah owls her head: One side. The other side. Back again, searching. Nothing found she takes her time, stretches as she climbs down (hind legs and tail in the air, her belly low). Blade thin, she slips into
the night like paper through the slot. At a distance her head appears again, a spotted mask of light and dark, her stare as orange as the afterglow, her eyes unwavering. The land turns black and white. The grass whispers. Cat… vanishes.
Field Note: Cheetah is legend. For grace and speed and for beauty. Lithe and light and lacking the brute strength of other great cats, they also have her limits. From the Cheetah’s point of view none of her gentler traits are particularly salutary. Cheetahs can only take small game - what they can both outrun and grab by the throat – and to do that they need a particular set of conditions. First and foremost space, but not just any space. Cheetah needs open space. And open space, thanks to human beings, is like Cheetah - vanishing. All around the Maasai Mara the land is being fenced in. Fences mean cattle and cattle are a head-to-head competitor of the worst kind. They take both grass and water from the game and in disproportionate amount - there are few grazing animals more inefficient than a cow, especially the rugged variety of the Maasai. The herders prize their cattle, and though their wrath is generally reserved for lions, they are instinctively wary of the great cats. Cows are wealth to
Maasai, not just blood and milk and sometimes meat, but status. Fifty cows will always be better than twenty, one hundred better still. And for those who cannot afford cows there are goats, who chew the grasses right down to the root. And every day more fences. And every day more cattle.
Equally deleterious, Maasai are permitted to bring their cattle through the Mara for water during drought. Drought is now most or at least much of the time, and if the herder goes slowly, well, not his fault if the cows nibble along the way. The increasing number of cows, people, and lack of space and especially lack of water leads inevitably to conflict. A small shooting war is burgeoning in Kenya in the Laikipia as herders lash out at people they see as competitors for increasingly sparse resources. There will not be more land or more water in future. Perhaps Maasai will learn to see their wealth as more broadly based than in cattle alone. But in order for that to happen, other means of wealth (and they do exist in Kenya) will have to be broadly shared. And ultimately, if any part of the natural world is to survive there will have to be fewer humans. Here, there, everywhere. Mark Seth Lender is a producer for wildlife content at Living on Earth ( LOE.org ), the only program on US Public Radio exclusively dedicated to wildlife and environmental reporting.
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The Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT
Wine & Cheese Pairings One might think that the subject of pairing wine with cheese would be an easy subject to address, but it seems to be a rather controversial one. In addition to my own opinion, I tried to research what other connoisseurs find to be good pairings. Among chefs, wine enthusiasts, gourmet foodies and cheese mongers it appears that everybody has an opinion. One tends to hear a lot of “This can go with only that.” First and foremost, I believe that whatever your palate prefers is the right pairing for you. If you like red wine with your lobster, then that is your perfect pairing.
I have made the same observation over many years of catering countless wine and cheese parties. People try many different cheeses with many different wines, but they most often end up staying with the wine they prefer. If you research the subject, you will find one expert pairing a cheese with one type of wine, and yet another will pair it with the opposite type of wine. That said, I propose the following chart listing different wines and their cheese pairings. Rather than consider these suggested pairings as a rule, utilize them as more of a guideline. After the chart, I list a couple of dessert pairings that have worked very well for me over the years.
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CHEESE
Sparkling Wines/Champagne
Beaujolais
La Tur, Iberico, Fontina, Morbier, Beemster Classic
Bordeaux
Bries, double and triple crèmes, Stilton with fruits,Tomme des Pyrénées, Crucolo, assorted Tilsits, Beemster goat cheese, Midnight Moon, Polder Goat, Honey Bee Goat, BellaVitano Merlot
Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Fourme d’Ambert, Cabot 4-year Cheddar, Grafton 4-year cheddar, Quebec 7-year cheddar, Piave
Burgundy
Cambozola, Blue Castello, Maytag Blue, Chaumes
Champagne
Universal - goes with all cheeses
Brunello
English Cheshire, Cantal, Italian Gorgonzola, Humboldt Fog Bucheron, Robiola
Moscato d’Asti
Light to medium blues - Cambozola, Blue Castello, Gorgonzola, Bleu d’Auvergne
Prosecco
Similar to champagne - all cheeses
Asti Spumante
WHITE WINE Burgundy Chardonnay Chenin Blanc
Light blue - Cambozola, Blue Castello, mild to medium cheddars, goat cheeses - especially chevres, Cantal
Condrieu
Epoisse, Fromage des Clarines, Moses Sleeper, Fromage d’Affinois, most soft-ripening cheeses
Fume Blanc
Light blues - Blue Castello, Cambozola, mild to medium cheddars, goat cheeses - especially chevres
Gewurztraminer
Cabernet Sauvignon Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Fourme d’Ambert, Cabot 4-year Cheddar, Grafton 4-year Cheddar, Piave Vecchio Chianti
Robiola, Fontina, Talegio, La Tur
Cote-du-Rhone
Medium Blues - Bleu d’Auvergne, Fourme d’Ambert, washed rind cheeses - Chaumes, Pont l’ Eveque
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sharp Cheddars - Cabot 4-year, Grafton 4-year, Black Diamond, English Ford Cheddar, Quebec 7-year Cheddar Malbec
Robiola, Fontina, Talegio, La Tur
Merlot
Piave Vecchio, Pinzani, Pecorino Classico
Pinot Noir
Humboldt Fog, Crottin, Beemster Vlaskaas
Same as Fume Blanc
Rhone
Challerhocker, Gruyere, Appenzeller
Montrachet
Light blues - Blue Castello, Cambozola, mild to medium cheddars, goat cheeses - especially chevres, Cantal, Harbison
Rioja
Manchego aged raw milk, Roquefort, Old Chatham Ewes Blue, Quebec 7-year Cheddar, Bellavitano, Beemster XO
Pinot Blanc
Medium cheddars – English Ford, Cabot Vermont, Grafton Vermont, Irish Dubliner, Swiss-style cheeses – Emmenthaler Gruyere, Dutch Leerdammer
Rosé (dry)
Vlaskaas, Tomme des Pyrénées, Mimolette, Lamb Chopper
Sangiovese
Acio de Busco, Pinzani Pecorino Classico, Pecorino Toscano
Epoisse, goat cheeses - Bucheron, goat logs, Crottin, mild to medium cheddars such as English Ford, Dubliner, Grafton, Cabot, Swiss-style cheeses such as Emmenthaler, Dutch Leerdammer, Beemster Goat
Sauvignon
Cave Aged Gruyere, Beemster Classic, Cheshire, Bella Vitano, Merlot
Shiraz
Piave Vecchio, Parrano, English Coastal Cheddar
Pouilly-Fuissé
Same as white Burgundy wines
Zinfandel
Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago Stravecchio, Piave Vecchio Gorgonzola Dolce
Pouilly-Fumé
Same as white Burgundy wines
Riesling
Epoisse, goat cheeses - Bucheron, goat logs, Crottin, mild to medium cheddars - Dubliner, Grafton, Cabot, Swiss style cheeses - Emmenthaler, Dutch Leerdammer, Morbier, Italian Fontina
Sancerre
Goat cheeses, Feta, Piave Vecchio, Parmigiano Reggiano, most blue cheeses - Roquefort, Bleu d’Auvergne, Fourme d’Ambert
Pinot Grigio
Dessert Spätlese and Auslese Fromage des Clarines, Moses Sleeper, Tomme des Pyrénées, Fromage D’Affinois Beerenauslese
Double Cremes - Fromager d’Affinois, Stiltons with fruit, La Tur, Kunik
Trockenbeerenauslese, Ice Wines, Sauternes, Barsac Delice d’ Argental, Brillat-Savarin or Saint Angel
Sauvignon Blanc
Soft ripening cheeses such as Fromage d’Affinois, Brie, Camembert, Fromage de Clarines, Moses Sleeper, goat cheese, light to medium cheddars
Ports
Stilton, Stichelton, Roquefort, Arethusa Blue
Madeira
Gorgonzola Dolce
Soave
Bellavitano, Piave Vecchio, Asiago, Manchego, Iberico, Castellano, Tres Leches, most pecorinos
Sherry
Blue Castello, Cambozola, Bayley Hazen Blue, Saint Agur
Vouvray
Triple crèmes - Delice d’Argental, Saint Angel, Stilton with Mango, Stilton with Cranberries, Stilton with Apricots, Cheshire and Caerphilly
Zinfandel
Gruyere, Challerhocker, Appenzeller, Crucolo
RED WINES Barbera
Fontina, Morbier, Talegio,
Barola
Light blues such as Blue Castello, Cambozola, mild to medium cheddars, goat cheeses - especially chevres, Cantal, English Coastal Cheddar
Barbaresco
Fontina, Morbier, Talegio, Fromage des Chaumes, Pont l’Eveque, Grayson, Robiola
Two Classic Desserts 1. English Stilton or Stichelton on table water biscuits with a spread of sweet (no salt) butter served with the best port wine you can find. The butter adds moisture to the biscuit and smooths out the cheese. This is a classic English dessert. 2. Delice d’Argental triple crème on a slice of pear served with a sweet dessert wine, Sauterne or Barsac (if you can find them). The German sweet wines are also hard to find (and expensive), but well worth the trouble, especially Trockenbeerenauslese. The three together are a wonderful taste treat. When all else fails, serve two to three different wines with four to five different cheeses chosen from different cheese families. Your wine and cheese party will be a success.
Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com
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The Cupping Room Philip Parda, Savvy Tea Gourmet
Don’t Forget Black Tea These days White Tea seems to be the darling of marketing departments of large beverage and commodity tea companies, as they search for the next great thing that will keep mainstream consumers lining up at convenience and grocery stores, trying to sort-out the dilemma of which tea is best for them and which one they should drink.
Studies suggest the compounds in black tea modified during oxidation can be beneficial to our health in the areas of Oral Health, Heart Health, Antioxidants, Cancer Prevention, Bone Health, Lowering Risk of Diabetes, Stress Relief, Immune System Support, Digestive Health, Improved Energy and Contentment. It is during the oxidation step that the leaf material is readied for and the stage is set for the finishing which will lock-in the character of the finished leaf.
Terroir Adds Nuance Layered on top of oxidation, which is the primary difference between tea types, are the specifics of the specific cultivar, soil type, growing conditions, and even culture and history of the area that add beauty and nuance to each finished tea.
The main driving factor for these companies, of course, is to make profit and increase shareholder stock value. On the heels of the Green Tea buzz that has led consumers to believe that anything that says Green Tea on the bottle or box is good for them, now comes White Tea…something else to create a buzz. Not surprisingly, every day mystified customers visit Savvy Tea Gourmet wondering which tea is really the healthiest choice, and are certainly thinking it wouldn’t be Black Tea.
The French language provides the word Terroir, which captures the essence of uniqueness from famous growing regions all with cultivars and varieties from the same plant…Camellia sinensis, is the tea plant.
Everyone should drink Green Tea… but Black Tea Is Good For You Too!
The Endless Range Of Aromas & Flavors
Every day comes another report from the industry sighting a newly released study or touting a supporting finding of how tea has healthy properties. And for good reason, the evidence is there and growing. Reading the reports and reviewing the studies, the evidence is compelling. Everyone should be drinking green tea…consumers have heard that. The parts that are missing are that not all teas are equal, and that Black Tea is good for you too.
Over centuries, tea has spread across the globe finding its way to many unique locations with Unique Terroir. This has created an almost endless variety in tea types from these unique places, especially black teas.
It’s A Lot About The Flavonoids
You Almost Forget It Is Good For You…But Indeed It Is
Tea contains hundreds to thousands of bioactive compounds that allow it to do good work within our bodies. Amongst these compounds are amino acids, caffeine, lignins, proteins, xanthines, and a group of phytonutrients called Flavonoids, which fall into the chemical category of polyphenols. Amazingly these flavonoids account for more than a third of the weight of tealeaves. Studies support that the main flavonoids in green tea may inhibit cancer by blocking the formation of cancer-causing compounds and suppressing the activation of carcinogens.
Give it a chance and the Romance of the Leaf can sweep you away. Like a fine wine, you will begin to embellish your live with nuance, appreciation, satisfying pleasure as you Taste The Place and you connect with the flavors of Ceylon, India, Nepal, China, Kenya, Uganda and many more.
Different from the unoxidized green teas, during the processing of Black Tea the leaves are oxidized in a controlled fashion which converts many polyphenols to larger molecules with different biological effects and benefits.
Oxidation Defines Black Tea While white & green teas are unoxidized, black teas are fully oxidized. Much like an apple you bite that begins to turn brown, tea leaves begin to oxidize shortly after plucking. In fact, steps must be taken to prevent green tea from oxidizing, while special steps are taken to make black tea oxidize in a desired way. Organic compounds are formed within the tea leaf during photosynthesis. After harvesting, leaves are softened by withering to prepare them for the next stage of processing, and to induce conversion of the organic compounds to amino acids and glucose. These modified organic compounds become crucial during the oxidation phase of processing the black tea. During oxidation the Magic begins. Not only are the modified organic compounds within the leaves developing, but tea polyphenol molecules are getting larger, and their properties are changing along with their capabilities.
Over centuries, Artisan Craftsmen have learned to apply specific adjustments to the processing steps of the teas to create uniqueness, beauty, and delight through variation with high quality.
As you move from Drinking Tea to Tasting Tea you realize what a special place enjoying Artisan Teas has made within your life. The delivery is of such reward that you are thrilled just to enjoy it, but in the backdrop of your tea drinking pleasure you realize…it IS still so good for you.
Artisan vs Commodity Tea The quality of the Artisan Tea Experience sets it apart from commodity teas by offering exceptional opportunity for uniqueness by making available high quality teas often from single gardens/estates each representative of its unique character as well as customized high quality blends that have been developed from teas with complementing properties. The challenge for commodity tea producers is repeatability and consistency. With Artisan Teas year to year and season to season variation is part of our challenge and delight. Whole-leaf Artisan Teas that exhibit uniqueness are more expensive by weight than commodity teas, but will deliver multiple infusions of rich tea which will drive down the per cup cost of Artisan Teas to very reasonable levels. Embarking on a Tea Garden Journey of Black Teas will not only provide a pleasing experience, but one that will be enhancing your health as you enjoy your tea. So please…Don’t Forget Black Tea! Philip Parda, Savvy Tea Gourmet, Madison, CT
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By Art LiPuma, General Manager, SeaSide Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook, CT
Syrah/Shiraz/Petite Sirah Syrah is a black grape that produces a full, rich, spicy red wine. The origin of the wine recently at it showed it is a direct descendant of the vine family Vitis Allobrogia, from the Rhone area in France. Originally, arrived at its origin of the Shiraz of Ancient Persia or Syracuse of Sicily. One thing is for sure: this grape has been grown and produced in Rhone for over a century. In Rhone, some of the best reds are produced from the areas of Hermitage and Cote du Rhone, which are full and rich with enough tannins to last for several years. Also of popularity are Chateauneuf Du Pape and Cote du Rhone, which were blended with Grenache and other grapes, determined by the area it comes from. In Province they do a great deal of blending Syrah with Cabernet Sauvignon. In California this grape is grown mostly in Mendocino and Sonoma. Due to the warm climates it thrives on, it is limited on where it is grown in California. Syrah is developed as a medium bodied wine with a slight peppery finish. It is also blended with Cabernet and Zinfandel to bring forth a rich full-bodied red. Australia produced a different style of this wine, it partakes richer jammer fruits that seem to have a sweeter, less tannic edge, with a decreased spicy and peppery finish than its counterpart from the Rhone area and much of California style. Also, the name of the grape is pronounced and spelled differently. Shiraz is the Australian name and this has been shared with South Africa. Due to its popularity, the Americans and even some of the French producers are using this spelling to sell more of their Syrah’s. However it is spelled, it is from the same grape. One of Australia’s top wines is Penfolds Grange, which is made of 100% Shiraz. This wine has intense rich fruit with extensive and well-balanced flavor, which can age for many years in the bottle. The Australians also blend their Shiraz, but mostly with Cabernet. South Africa produces Shiraz, although its popularity has just started to reach the U.S. They also blend their Shiraz with Cabernet. They also blend their Shiraz with Cabernet, Cinsault and Pinotage. Syrah/Shiraz is a full robust red wine to have whether by itself or blended with other grapes. One other thing to mention, it the smaller grape: Petite Syrah. Although
thought to be a relation to another name for Syrah, it is in fact an entirely different varietal of grape. This grape grows best in North and South America with the warmer weather. It is also considered some black grape rich in flavor deep blackberry, cassis, and black cherry with a spicy finish. It is grown in many of the warmer climate areas in California such as Lodi, Paso Robles, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Aside from it being an excellent by itself, it makes many red blends bolder and full bodied. Argentina also produces this wine which was once thought of as the other grape Syrah. Brazil is also noted for producing good Petite Sirah due to their warmer climates. It pares well with hearty beef dishes, any barbeque dishes and also red sauces. Enjoy these wines and try doing a comparison with Syrah vs. Petite Sirah.
Art LiPuma Seaside Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook CT
APRIL EVENTS
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April 1 – May 25 - Westbrook Open call exhibit “Local Vision III” at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Medical Center. The exhibition features selected photographic works by artists from throughout Connecticut and beyond. The selected works were chosen through an open call, curatorial process and is curated by Jan Ayer. The Gallery is open during regular business hours and is located at 250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT. For more information, contact Middlesex Hospital at 860-358- 6200 or zahngallery@gmail.com. April 1 - 14 Madison 15th Anniversary Exhibition. Susan Powell Fine Art. Our Anniversary Exhibition celebrating 15 years in business at our Madison gallery is now on view through April 14th. Thirty-five award-winning artists whom we have represented for many years, as well as newly invited artists are participating in this exciting Spring show. This exhibit features a varied selection of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, florals, figurative and New York City scenes. The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison near the fire station. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, and anytime by appointment. For further information, please call (203) 318-0616, email us at susanpowellfineart@gmail.com and visit www.susanpowellfineart.com to see works in the show.
April 1 - May 27 Hartford Andrew Buck: Quarry Andrew Buck's sense of the term "landscape" is inspired by the writings of John Brinkerhoff Jackson. "He went back to the source word, the German landschaften, which referred to that which results when 'man' reconfigures and uses the land, in essence creating his own landscape on the natural landscape," says Buck. Real Art Ways 56 Arbor St. Hartford, CT 06106
April 4 - Jan 6 Norwalk The LockwoodMathews Mansion Museum opens on April 4, 2018, 12-4 p.m., with tours fe aturing a new acquisition as part of the Museum’s furnishings and decorative arts collections, a Young Writers’ Competition, and a Scavenger Hunt for people of all ages. LMMM will be opened to the public April 4, 2018 through Jan. 6, 2019 and feature a 45 minute tour of the first floor of the Mansion’s Period Rooms and the Servants’ Quarters, and a 90 minute tour, which will also include the Mansion’s second floor bedroom suites and family room. Both tours will be available by reserving online, through the Museum’s website, www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or by calling 203-838-9799 ext. 4. Walk-ins will be welcomed, subject to availability. April 4 - 28 Westerly "Rhythm & Movement” - Visual Inspiration. The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery Of Westerly: Artists use rhythm and movement to bring art to life. Rhythm refers to the way a viewer’s eyes move through a picture. It’s the pattern created by the repetition of a similar shape or line, with variation that creates visual change the eye can follow. Some pictures lead the eye in a connected, flowing way: others in an abrupt, dynamic manner. Artists create visual movement by placing different shapes, objects, lines, colors, textures, or patterns into a composition. Me mb e rs of the A rtis ts ’ C o o p e r ative Gallery will explore these elements of design in a new show. The “Rhythm & Movement” show will feature encaustic work by Arlene Piacquadio, metal sculptures and hand-crafted jewelry by Sandy Chucnin Webb, and the photography of Lisle Ann Jackson. The public is welcome to join the artists on Friday, April 4th from 5-8PM for the Opening Night Reception. Gallery hours are Wed-Sat from 11AM - 7PM & Sun 1 - 5PM. Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly 7 Canal Street, Westerly, RI 02891 Free and Open to All TaxFree Shopping April 6 - Mystic Curated 1-Year Anniversary Celebration Bubbly, Music, Surprises! An eclectic selection of finely curated art and sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, vintage rugs, home accessories, and other beautiful things. 5:00 - 7:00pm 29 West Main St Mystic, Connecticut 06355 www.curated.world
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APRIL 9 - Old Lyme April Expressive Wellness. This workshop series is for anyone interested in using the art making process to gain insight into one’s own internal expression. Engaging in art intuitively can lead to self discovery, inner meaning, as well as stress reduction. By allowing your self to experience your inner world through art you will find new tools to move through life in more balanced and creative ways. This series is open to art artists and non artists like. Unlike traditional art expression, the process of creation is emphasized rather than the final product. All materials are provided. You you may choose any or all of the workshops. Each evening is a complete workshop. $13 - $15 Space is limited to 10 participants. Florence Griswold Museum 96 Lyme Street Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-5542 April 15 New London Little Pink House, based on the book “Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage” by Connecticut author Jeff Benedict, is a a new movie about the Fort Trumbull eminent domain saga that became nationally known as the 2005 Kelo vs. New London Supreme Court case. This special one-time only screening precedes the limited national release in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. Starring Catherine Keener, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Callum Rennie, Little Pink House was directed and written by Courtney Balaker. The musical score includes a new song written for the film by David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Members of the creative team will be in attendance for the screening and Benedict’s books will be available for signing. Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 5:00 pm Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am to 5pm and two hours before showtimes. Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London, CT 860-444-7373, ext 1
April 18 Hartford Playing with Food: An Evening with Playwright Jacques Lamarre and His Muses. April 18 • 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $25. Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum present “PLAYING WITH FOOD: An Evening with Playwright Jacques Lamarre and His Muses” on April 18, 2018 at 7 p.m. at The Mark Twain House & Museum. Playwright Jacques Lamarre loves writing about two things: women and food. Come meet the muses who inspired his three most successful plays, Raging Skillet; I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti; and Born Fat, which have been seen by thousands in theaters around the country. Find out what it is like to have your life turned into a stage play and how Jacques approached each of the authors’ books as source material. Eric Ort, Artistic Associate at TheaterWorks, will moderate the discussion. After the discussion you can sample the authors’ recipes and drinks at a reception that includes a book signing. You will also meet Jacques and his muses — Chef Rossi, Owner & Executive Chef of Raging Skillet, Giulia Melucci, Vice President of Public Relations at Harper’s Magazine, and Elizabeth Petruccione, Owner of Losing Weight with Elizabeth — at the reception. Tickets are $25. Click here to purchase yours now! For more information email friendsmth@yahoo.com or call 617-905-1912. 351 The Mark Twain House & Museum Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT
April 19 - 21 Guilford Designers Circus “Pop-Up” Clothing & Accessories Event Comes to Guilford Art Center. Designers Circus, a Boston-based creative fashion and accessories event, is returning to Guilford and will hold a “pop-up” sale in the gallery at the Guilford Art Center. The sale will be open on Thursday, April 19 from 10am – 6pm, Friday, April 20 from 10am – 6pm & Saturday, April 21, 10 am – 3 pm. Designers Circus is an “under-the-radar” sale, featuring new boutique women’s clothing at wholesale prices that are 50-90% below regular retail prices. Shoppers will find creative fashions and accessories from over 70 domestic and international craftswomen and small-scale designers. The Shop at Guilford Art Center will also be open, with handcrafted accessories, jewelry, home decor and more, to complement purchases. A portion of proceeds from sales at the Designers Circus event will benefit Guilford Art Center’s educational programs. Admission is free. All sales are final; there are no returns, refunds, credits or exchanges. Designer Circus Pop-Up Shopping Event at Guilford Art Center. Thursday, April 19, 10am-6pm Friday, April 20, 10am-6pm, Saturday, April 21, 10am-3pm. Admission is free. For more information contact Guilford Art Center at www.guilfordartcenter.org or 203-453-5947.
APRIL EVENTS
April 7 - Westbrook A Tribute to The Man in Black “Sun Records” featuring legendary “Man in Black”, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. Johnny Cash is one of the most iconic music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Robert Black brings Cash's deep, calm bass-baritone voice and distinctive sound to Water's Edge. Cocktail Hour: 6:00pm | First Set: 7:00pm | Themed Buffet Dinner: 8:00pm | Second Set: 9:00pm. Prices include all Taxes & Gratuities. Water's Edge Resort and Spa | 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT 06498 Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com
APRIL EVENTS
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April 20 - May 28 Madison Still Life Invitational. Susan Powell Fine Art. Opening Reception to meet the Artists: Friday, April 20, 5 to 8 pm, wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. This is our 10th Still Life Invitational show, over twenty-five award-winning artists including Kathy Anderson, Carol Arnold, Julie Beck, Kelly Birkenruth, Todd Casey, Ken Davies, Grace DeVito, Eileen Eder, Judith Pond Kudlow, Anne McGrory, Larry Preston, Cindy Procious, Carlo Russo, Claudia Seymour and George Van Hook are participating in this most popular exhibition, which has become an exciting tradition and is a focal point for painters and collectors of still life. The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison near the fire station. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, and anytime by appointment. For further information, please call (203) 318-0616, email us at susanpowellfineart@gmail.com and visit www.susanpowellfineart.com to see works in the show. April 21 Clinton Looking for Light. You are invited to an opening reception for the new show at Cindy Stevens Fine Art, on Saturday, April 21st from 5-8! "Looking for Light" will feature photography from Kathy King, watercolors by Lisa Fatone, and oil paintings by Andy King and Cindy Stevens. Kathy is from Clinton and she and Andy live in Old Lyme. Lisa is in Westbrook. After a very long winter come out and soak up some color and our visions of light through our art at our new show! Refreshments will be served at the opening reception. Cindy Stevens Fine Art is at 30 East Main St in Clinton. For gallery hours or more information call Cindy at 860-304-1666,or check out www.cindystevensfineart.com or the gallery Facebook page. The show runs through June. April 21- Westbrook An Evening with Sir Elton John. An evening with Sir Elton John – Performed by Anthony Edwards. One of the most iconic performers in Rock & Roll History comes to the shoreline through the m a s terful performance of Anthony Edwards. Cocktail Hour: 6:00pm | First Set: 7:00pm | Themed Buffet Dinner: 8:00pm | Second Set: 9:00pm. Prices include all Taxes & Gratuities. Water's Edge Resort and Spa | 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com
April 22, Deep River Cappella Cantorum performing Haydn's 'Creation'. Celebrate Earth Day and the creation of our beautiful planet by attending Cappella Cantorum Masterworks Chorus' performance of Joseph Haydn's "Creation" on Sunday, April 22, 3 p.m. at John Winthrop Middle School, 1 Winthrop Road, Deep River. Simon Holt will lead the chorus, professional soloists and orchestra. Soloists will be: internationally known Bass, David Pittsinger and Tenor, Brian Cheney and Soprano Sarah Callinan. Haydn's oratorio depicts the creation of the world from darkness and chaos to the creation of light, order and harmony. It is considered one of Haydn's finest works. Tickets are $25 purchased in advance, $30 at the door. For more information or tickets visit www.CappellaCantorum.org or call 860-526-1038. April 25 - May 13 Ivoryton Love Quest. A renowned scientist once theorized that finding “intelligent life” on other planets in the universe would be like shooting a particular blackbird in a room full of blackbirds, with the lights out. Ironically, the same probability applies for finding a “normal man” on an online dating service. Love Quest – a new comedy – explores the journeys of two women in the perilous world of online dating. Kate and Brook meet after a bad date goes awry and become friends and allies in this strange new dating world. This is their story. Theatre Address 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442 Box Office Phone: 860.767.7318 info@ivorytonplayhouse.org April 27 - Westbrook Italy Meets Broadway. PopOpera Crooner Franco Corso returns to Water's Edge following his Italian Christmas Show to perform the magic of Italy On Broadway from 'Bocelli' to the 'Phantom of the Opera'. Cocktail Hour: 6:00pm | First Set: 7:00pm | Themed Buffet Dinner: 8:00pm | Second Set: 9:00pm. Dinner & Show. $49++ per person. Price excluding tax & service charge. Water's Edge Resort and Spa | 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT 06498 Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com April 30th Eyebrows for Mom. A Nu Yu is featured on Channel 8 CT Style at noon. Please tune in as we present Eyebrows for Mom, the story how I began A Nu Yu Studio! Interest to anyone considering Eyebrow Cosmetic Tattoo and Microblading. www.A-Nu-Yu.com