ShoutOut

This, that, and the other things

LITERARY LIONS

Professor Mark J. Schenker of Yale College is back with his popular series on great English fiction of the modern age. The fall session shines a spotlight on four early 20th Century novels by celebrated authors including: The Secret Agent (1907) by Joseph Conrad; Howards End (1910) by E. M. Forster; Mrs. Dalloway (1925) by Virginia Woolf; and Brighton Rock (1938) by Graham Greene. According to Schenker, the focus will be on “the legacy of the Victorian Age and the transformations wrought by WWI; modernism’s intense interest in the value of the primitive; the fragmentation of a central culture and the rise of alienation; the problem of evil; and the influence of disciplines as varied as psychology and physics on the literary representation of character and reality.” We’re feeling smarter already. wiltonlibrary.org

FASHIONABLE FLOWERS

The Wilton Garden Club honors a tradition of artistic influence with their upcoming show, A Century of Flowers in Fashion. Wilton’s historic Old Town Hall will be artfully trimmed to reflect the connection between fashion and flowers over the last 100 years. Sixteen creative floral designs will be presented to represent different decades. Plant, flower, and local landscape-based photography will be on display as well as hundreds of horticultural specimens, with an emphasis on dahlias. wiltongardenclub.org

SCAVENGERS WELCOME

Scavenger hunts evolved from ancient folk games but it was Manhattan’s legendary gossip columnist and socialite, Elsa Maxwell who popularized the fad in the U.S. after she hosted a series of chic “treasure hunt parties” in 1930s New York. The tradition was taken up by colleges and more recently, by towns. Now the Wilton Historical Society is getting in on the fun. Starting October 16, kids and families can participate in the “History is Here Wilton Scavenger Hunt.” Participants will journey north, south, east, and west to discover intriguing places and artifacts with a surprising past. At each location there will be a scannable QR code, which will play a short video illustrating how history really is all around you, here in Wilton. wiltonhistorical.org

GOOD EATS

A warm Wilton welcome to Sandy, Angela, and Alex Baldanza, the family of restaurateurs who have taken over 34 Cannon Road (formerly the Schoolhouse at Cannondale) and named the space Bistro Baldanza. The new eatery offers fresh, organic, seasonal fare. Chef de cuisine Angela Baldanza believes people “eat with their eyes,” so she focuses on creating delicious, visually appealing dishes. Those with allergies or food intolerances can rejoice, because everything is cooked fresh and customizable. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. Buon appetite! baldanzarestaurants.com.