Cultural Events in Western Connecticut

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Merryall Center in New Milford, CT is now accepting submissions for Expressing Motherhood (Connecticut).

Expressing Motherhood is a stage show of personal stories, songs, and skits all about the journey of motherhood. Since 2008, moms have been sharing their stories at Expressing Motherhood performances across the country. Submissions from moms, dads, grandparents, and reflections about mothers are all welcome.

The show is built for the non-famous, non-published, and people who want to get out and express themselves. The average cast consists of ten people. Performers submit in advance and are chosen based on the power of their stories.

Submission deadline - June 30th, 2025. No auditions. Email Submissions to: aschuette@merryallcenter.org

This spring and summer escape into the pages of a great book while enjoying the fresh air and peaceful surroundings of the Mark Twain Library’s new loggia! Join us for our new Silent Book Club, where book lovers gather to read in quiet companionship. Come for an hour, settle into a cozy spot with a book of your choice, soak in the tranquility, and let the world fade away.

Welcome! Many classes start soon – Day and Evening! – in Person and Zoom – in Ridgefield Continuing Education.

Advance registration is required. Registration contact information and the website link to all classes is at the bottom of this article.

Mushroom Walk with Mycologist, Zaac Chaves
Grab a notebook and join Zaac Chaves on a mycologically focused ecological tour in Ridgefield on date to be determined at 3 p.m. During this outing we will identify seasonal mushrooms. You will help us catalog species (including possibly rare sightings) and even help document increasing evidence of climate change locally. No experience required. Zaac Chaves works on species surveys for several sites and sometimes with organizations including Harvard University, the New York Botanical Gardens, and the National Parks Service. We have found several new species at many sites and are also helping recognize others which are rare and disappearing. He also serves as the chief editor of the Boston Mycological Club Bulletin, established in 1897.

1 Session $ 29 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 25)
Sat., 6/14 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Directions to class location in Ridgefield will be emailed prior to class.

Registration – call (203) 431-2812 or email ridgefieldce@gmail.com

Website https://ridgefieldschools.org

If you are struggling with stress, an over-active mind and want to find a new perspective on how mindfulness and meditation can help in navigating the challenges of your everyday life, then join Prabha Makayee as she guides you through the steps of meditation. See what you can accomplish by taking responsibility over what kinds of thoughts you think. With just one second, one breath and one thought of changing your perspective you can realign your well-being to a more peaceful, happy mindset.

Check out other library programs!

Calling all young writers! Muse Squad, a premier creative writing program, is thrilled to bring its inspiring literature-based classes to the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center this spring. Whether your child dreams of crafting magical worlds or exploring classic literature, these engaging workshops are the perfect place to spark creativity and build writing skills.

This season, students will dive into At the Back of the North Wind, the beloved fantasy novel by George MacDonald. Through guided discussions and creative exercises, participants will explore storytelling techniques, develop their own unique voices, and connect with fellow young writers.

📍 Location: Ridgefield Parks & Recreation, 195 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

🌸 Spring 2025 Courses 🌸

✏ North Wind (ages 8 – 12)

📅 Wednesdays | 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

✏ Wonderland (teens 13+)

📅 Wednesdays | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

Muse Squad will also be welcoming their newest instructor, Ms. Brianna Bencosme Bidó, as she joins the Muse Squad team to co-instruct the Ridgefield courses this spring. Bri has a BA in Creative and Professional Writing and is currently working on her M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing at Western Connecticut State University. She is a passionate teaching-artist, poet, and essayist, and Muse Squad cannot wait to introduce her to the wonderful Muse Squad community and all its talented students!

This is a fantastic opportunity for young storytellers to unleash their imagination and refine their writing craft in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Register now to secure a place in one of these exciting classes

Join us for an invigorating outdoor Zumba class set amidst the scenic beauty of the vineyard!

Led by Toni Nuzzolo, an experienced instructor with a lifelong passion for Zumba, this class promises an energizing workout infused with Latin and international rhythms. Toni teaches regularly at community centers in Seymour and Ansonia, the JCC in Woodbridge, and Pomperaug Woods in Southbury.

Get ready to move, sweat, and have fun with easy-to-follow choreography that makes fitness feel like a dance party!

Wear comfortable clothing, sneakers, and bring a towel. Let’s dance among the vines!

Wine is not included in the ticket. A drink purchase of minimum $10 plus tax and gratuity per participant is required to attend this event and can be made at the vineyard prior to the start of the event, after our staff checks your ID. You're welcome to pick up the drink at the end of this event.

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Filled Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Ticket is non refundable, only transferable for weather related reasons.

WAIVER

By signing up for this event you agree to the waiver below:

I know that this activity is potentially hazardous and could cause injury. I assume all risks associated with participating in this event, including but no limited to: falls, sprains, contact with other participants, the effects of the weather, all such risks being known and appreciated by me and any other participant included in my reservation. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, as well as for anyone else that I included in my reservation, waive and release Aquila's Nest Vineyards, the class instructor, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this activity.

Are you an aspiring naturalist or photographer wanting to learn more about how to spot and photograph the beauty in your backyard?

Join Matt Sharp, member of the Ridgefield Conservation Commission and amateur photographer at the Ridgefield Library on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:00 pm as he shares photography tips, nearby spots for great photographs and how to research locations to photograph. Please register.

Matt has lived in Ridgefield since 1997 and joined the Commission in 2020. He was a Scout Troop Leader for Ridgefield’s Troop 116 from 2006 to 2019. While in scouting, he planned and led backpacking trips to many National Parks across the country. Matt has a passion for the outdoors and an eye for beauty in nature.

Grab your popcorn, grab your friend, and join our latest Virtual Author Talk for a propulsive online conversation with author Liann Zhang as she chats with us about her debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead. 

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

W. I. N. E. at Aquilas Nest - “ Women, Inspiration, Networking, and Empowerment”

Join us to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women, creating a space for empowerment, growth, and transformation.

This full-day conference is dedicated to all the P.E.A.C.E.S. of your life.

Physical: health + wellness

Emotional: relationships + communication

Aspirational: goals + achievements

Cerebral: career + performance

Ethereal: spirit + mindfulness

We know that true success isn’t just about professional achievements—it’s about maintaining happiness, prioritizing well-being, and equipping ourselves with the right tools to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Throughout the day, you will hear

invaluable insights from several professionals on how to build sustainable careers, maintain mental and physical well-being, and navigate the challenges of modern business with confidence. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a professional, a wellness advocate, or someone simply looking for inspiration, this conference is designed to leave you feeling empowered and equipped to take bold steps forward.

Hosted by Flory Hiatrides of A Wakened Events (AWE). Flory is Mentor, Manifestor, Mathematician, Mom, Entrepreneur, Educator and Health Coach with 40 years of experience in professional facilitation, curriculum development and entrepreneurial success.

🍷One Complementary Drink Ticket is included per each guest. Aquila's Nest has many non-alcoholic options as well.

Outside Alcoholic Beverages, Water Bottles and any other beverages are NOT allowed on the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of Aquila’s Nest Vineyard Winery Permit. Our Staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

All participates must be 21 years of age or older.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Ticket is non refundable

BUY TICKETS on our website:

https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/service-page/women-who-inspire-network-and-empower

Looking for a way to stay grounded and rejuvenated this spring? Join us for this popular and inspiring 4-week virtual series with Viki Boyko, an experienced instructor who incorporates mindfulness with functional fitness moves.

This series will incorporate modifications to make sessions available for all levels — from beginners to more experienced yogis. For those who need a bit more support, having a strap, belt or towel can help assist with the moves.

Today we paint! Be inspired as you work on your watercolor artwork. We may even turn our art into something special during a later event!

Grades 5 & 6 at 4:pm: https://marktwainlibrary.org/events/watercolor-painting-gr-56/

Grades 7+ at 5pm: https://marktwainlibrary.org/events/watercolor-painting-gr-7/

Calling all young writers! Muse Squad, a premier creative writing program, is thrilled to bring its inspiring literature-based classes to the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center this spring. Whether your child dreams of crafting magical worlds or exploring classic literature, these engaging workshops are the perfect place to spark creativity and build writing skills.

This season, students will dive into At the Back of the North Wind, the beloved fantasy novel by George MacDonald. Through guided discussions and creative exercises, participants will explore storytelling techniques, develop their own unique voices, and connect with fellow young writers.

📍 Location: Ridgefield Parks & Recreation, 195 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

🌸 Spring 2025 Courses 🌸

✏ North Wind (ages 8 – 12)

📅 Wednesdays | 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

✏ Wonderland (teens 13+)

📅 Wednesdays | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

Muse Squad will also be welcoming their newest instructor, Ms. Brianna Bencosme Bidó, as she joins the Muse Squad team to co-instruct the Ridgefield courses this spring. Bri has a BA in Creative and Professional Writing and is currently working on her M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing at Western Connecticut State University. She is a passionate teaching-artist, poet, and essayist, and Muse Squad cannot wait to introduce her to the wonderful Muse Squad community and all its talented students!

This is a fantastic opportunity for young storytellers to unleash their imagination and refine their writing craft in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Register now to secure a place in one of these exciting classes

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join us for a special screening of the award-winning feature documentary Out There: A National Parks Story in western Connecticut! The film's director Brendan Hall will be joining for a post-film conversation, alongside other to-be-announced guests who are protectors of Connecticut's land and waters.

In the documentary, a young filmmaker sets out on a 10,000-mile exploration of the national parks with his childhood friend during the centennial year of the formation of the National Park Service. Along the way, they share experiences of the people that work in the parks and those that come to enjoy them, as part of the rich tapestry of the history of the park system emerges. They hear profound stories from people of all ages and walks of life who have come to the parks seeking tranquility, healing, motivation, and connection to the natural world. This stunning road trip film is a tribute to the national parks and their history, and is also a recognition of the people that appreciate them and work to preserve their beauty.

After a sweeping film festival run and screenings with organizations across the country, the filmmakers are excited to bring this film to their home state as a fundraiser for teachers in New Milford High School to attend STEAM in the Park, a leading program for educators to experience national parks and bring lessons back to their communities. The evening will also feature an environmental career and opportunity fair for middle to high school students to browse before the film. For more information on the documentary, view our trailer and website here.

Out There has toured film festivals across the country to sold-out audiences, winning a number of awards and headlining screening events including the National Parks Friends Alliance, Public Lands Alliance, the Explorers Club, and Pixar Animation Studios.

We look forward to sharing this ode to the natural world with you as we reflect on our role in protecting these parks for future generations.

🌺Celebrate love, laughter, and creativity this May at our Paint Your Partner CT Night! Whether you're a couple, best friends, family or just looking for a fun and quirky evening, this event invites YOU to swap brushes and paint portraits of each other—with a twist. Think Picasso meets laughter therapy!

No painting experience required —just bring your favorite person and a sense of humor.

All materials will be provided, along with music, in house wine, light snacks, food truck to fuel your inner artist.

Reserve your spot today and make May a masterpiece 🎨🖼️

READ BELOW:

Wine is not included in the ticket. A drink purchase of minimum $10 plus tax and gratuity per participant is required to attend this event and can be made at the vineyard prior to the start of the event, after our staff checks your ID. Aquila’s Nest has many non-alcoholic options as well. Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

Come play music, recite poetry, tell a story, or show off another talent!

Keep in mind this is an all ages event in a public venue. We trust you to make good choices about appropriate material.

This is an LGBTQIA+ inclusive and welcoming event series. No cover fee but minimum one drink purchased required (show Molten some love, y’all!)

Performance slots are assigned on a first come, first served basis IN PERSON. No times will be held or assigned before the event starts. Get there early to grab your spot!

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Welcoming Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale to The Granite for two nights only! They’ll perform on Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 17th. Soak up all the soulful goodness and consider joining us both nights.

Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale are a dynamic musical duo from St. Louis, Missouri, blending soulful vocals with masterful guitar work.

Joanna gained national recognition on The Voice (Season 18), captivating audiences with her rich, expressive voice. Tyler, an accomplished guitarist and country-influenced artist, brings a versatile sound that complements Joanna’s soul-driven style. Together, they create a genre-blending experience that feels both timeless and fresh.

Currently on a year-long coastal tour of the U.S. in their Airstream, they deliver intimate acoustic performances that resonate with authenticity, heart, and raw talent. They each have an album on all streaming platforms – “Salutations” by Tyler Dale and “Best of Me” by Joanna Serenko. Be sure to stream their music and follow along on their journey!

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join filmmakers Dan Schechter (Life of Crime, Supporting Characters, After Class) and Brian Russell (Not the Same Clarence, Silver Sizzle, Cascades) at the Ridgefield Library on Friday, May 16th at 2:00 pm as they analyze and discuss the anatomy of a scene from five 2025 RIFF (Ridgefield Independent Film Festival) Official Selections.

Please register.

Daniel Schechter has been a professional, independent filmmaker for almost 20 years. He’s written five produced, feature-length screenplays (four of which he directed). His films have premiered at Tribeca, Slamdance and the Toronto International Film Festivals, and have gone on to play all over the world to awards and acclaim.

Brian Russell has made many short films that have been featured in over 150 film festivals and won nearly 50 awards combined. Recently he has worked with Tony-award-winning Broadway veterans like James Naughton and Boyd Gaines.

🎶 Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Italian music as the Graceful Tenor, Vittorio Di Carlo, takes center stage for an unforgettable "Italian Serenade Night" in our Grand Piano Tasting Room. His soul-stirring renditions of classic Italian songs will transport you to the heart of Italy.

Discover the soul of Southern Italy at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards during a special evening celebrating Calabria—where mountains meet the sea, and culture, cuisine, and music come alive. Meet Luciano Siciliano, founder of Experience Calabria Tourist, as he shares travel tips, local insights, and the hidden charms of this enchanting region.

🇮🇹 Please secure tickets for all attendees 3 years and older.

📍 With this ticket, you'll enjoy reserved seating in the cozy indoor tasting room, with seating arrangements thoughtfully assigned by our hostess.

Your VIP Experience:

• Exclusive reserved seating in our cozy indoor tasting room

• Up-close and personal interaction with the performer – the intimate setting of our tasting room creates a unique opportunity to connect with the musician during the performance

• A superb selection of wines (minimum $10 drink purchase required per guest)

• Delicious non-alcoholic options available for all to enjoy

• Thoughtfully curated seating arrangements by our hostess for a truly intimate experience

OUTSIDE BEVERAGES/FOOD POLICY

• Outside alcohol beverages, water bottles or any other beverages are not allowed in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Any violation of this restriction puts our permit in jeopardy.

• Guests are welcome to bring their own food, and are responsible for their picnic personal belongings, cleaning their area before leaving the vineyard.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Ticket is non refundable.

BOOK TICKETS on our website:

https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/service-page/italian-music-with-the-graceful-tenor

Welcoming Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale to The Granite for two nights only! They’ll perform on Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 17th. Soak up all the soulful goodness and consider joining us both nights.

Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale are a dynamic musical duo from St. Louis, Missouri, blending soulful vocals with masterful guitar work.

Joanna gained national recognition on The Voice (Season 18), captivating audiences with her rich, expressive voice. Tyler, an accomplished guitarist and country-influenced artist, brings a versatile sound that complements Joanna’s soul-driven style. Together, they create a genre-blending experience that feels both timeless and fresh.

Currently on a year-long coastal tour of the U.S. in their Airstream, they deliver intimate acoustic performances that resonate with authenticity, heart, and raw talent. They each have an album on all streaming platforms – “Salutations” by Tyler Dale and “Best of Me” by Joanna Serenko. Be sure to stream their music and follow along on their journey!

A new play by Dorothy Lyman

Three generations of women meet upstate over President’s Day weekend to decide the fate of their family farm and its matriarch.

In 2025, Foghat celebrates 54 years of rock ‘n’ roll history. Known for their infectious boogie rock, Foghat continues to captivate audiences, delivering high-energy performances that are just as thrilling today as they were in 1977 when their classic multi-platinum album, Foghat Live, broke them worldwide. Foghat’s success isn’t just a result of their iconic hit “Slow Ride” but a testament to their ability to continually produce great music. Foghat’s enduring appeal, dynamic performances, and dedication to their craft ensure that they remain a beloved fixture in the rock ‘n’ roll world, continuing to create and share their music with fans old and new.
Part of the Pepsi Rock Series Handcrafted by American Metal

Downtown Eleven the newest club in town

Young students will learn theatre basics, as well as music and choreography. This class is highly recommended before participating in other TW Kids’ Programs.

Showcase Performance on June 7th.

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join us at the Ridgefield Library on Saturday, May 17th at 10:00 am for Make Your Movie! (How To Do It Now for Less) with award-winning filmmaker, Brooke Berman.  

Please register.

The entertainment industry has been in crisis for some time. The good news is that it’s a great time to make your own work. As indie filmmaker Naomi McDougall Jones says, “Make the weirdest sh*t you can.” Filmmaker Brooke Berman will walk you through the ins and outs of putting your feature project together on a microbudget. If you have been waiting for permission — a green light, a movie star, an agent, a sign from the Heavens — and are ready to get up and make your film, this is the master class for you.

Brooke Berman is an award-winning playwright, filmmaker, and memoirist. She wrote and directed Ramona at Midlife which premiered at Geena Davis’s esteemed Bentonville Film Festival, screened at RIFF last year and now streaming on Apple+ and other streaming platforms.

This program is part of the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF).

The Art of Watercolors

This 4 hour workshop will get you started on learning the magical world of watercolor.

Liz will teach you the most important basic techniques to start you off and get warmed up!

Then we will focus on learning how to control your watercolors to create both loose washes and fine details.

Beginner and intermediate watercolor painters are welcome.

Supplies are included but if you already have watercolor supplies (please bring them) especially brushes.

Fun day of learning and finding your new voice in art!

This workshop is 4 hours, from 11-4 with a break for snacking etc..

Where does it come from? Where does it flow? Join a walk led by geologist Bruce Ward to explore and discuss the watersheds, streams, ponds, vernal pools, springs and groundwater of New Pond Farm. Approximately 1 mile walk.

This program is:
Free for New Pond Farm members,
$10 per Non-member

Registration required, space is limited. Please register at www.newpondfarm.org

Welcoming Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale to The Granite for two nights only! They’ll perform on Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 17th. Soak up all the soulful goodness and consider joining us both nights.

Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale are a dynamic musical duo from St. Louis, Missouri, blending soulful vocals with masterful guitar work.

Joanna gained national recognition on The Voice (Season 18), captivating audiences with her rich, expressive voice. Tyler, an accomplished guitarist and country-influenced artist, brings a versatile sound that complements Joanna’s soul-driven style. Together, they create a genre-blending experience that feels both timeless and fresh.

Currently on a year-long coastal tour of the U.S. in their Airstream, they deliver intimate acoustic performances that resonate with authenticity, heart, and raw talent. They each have an album on all streaming platforms – “Salutations” by Tyler Dale and “Best of Me” by Joanna Serenko. Be sure to stream their music and follow along on their journey!

Free; pre-registration encouraged

Have you ever looked at contemporary art and wished you knew what it meant? Have you ever entered a museum not knowing where to start? If you answered yes, this free, interactive, and judgment-free tour of our current exhibitions guided by a Museum Educator is perfect for you!

All ages welcome, Family-friendly

Incredicause Minifest 2025 - Aetheria Band

Come join us for a unique experience to help support the Christian Metal Band & National Fine Arts Competitor, Aetheria! The event will help fundraise their trip to Orlando, FL where they will perform the original song, "Forever in Your Grace." This event features exciting outdoor activities, including a Battle of the Bands, special guest performances, a 50/50 raffle fundraiser supporting Aetheria Band, a kids' play zone with bouncing, badminton, and freeze tag, along with food and beverages for sale. Indoor activities include an art show benefiting local artists, music workshop demos during band breaks, hands-on creativity sessions like painting and jewelry-making, and swimming available by appointment. Parking is limited to 25 vehicles so please carpool or get a ride when passes run out.

Transport yourself through time and relive the glory days of the 80s & 90s at our Retro Rewind DJ Party! Join us for a nostalgic journey filled with iconic beats, classic tunes, and the vibrant energy that defined the era. Get ready to groove to the sounds of the 80s & 90s in a night that promises to be a blast from the past with DJ RJ!

📍 Location: Aquila's Nest Vineyards Indoor Tasting Room

👔 Dress Code: Nylon, Leggings, Bold Bright Colors, Denim, Crop It Like It's Hot 80s & 90s Vibe

Your VIP Experience:

• Exclusive reserved seating in our cozy indoor tasting room

• Up-close and personal interaction with the performer – the intimate setting of our tasting room creates a unique opportunity to connect with the DJ during the performance

• A superb selection of wines (minimum $10 drink purchase required per guest)

• Delicious non-alcoholic options available for all to enjoy

• Thoughtfully curated seating arrangements by our hostess for a truly intimate experience

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Ticket is non refundable.

BOOK TICKETS on our website:

https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/service-page/80s-and-90s-dj-party

Welcoming Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale to The Granite for two nights only! They’ll perform on Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 17th. Soak up all the soulful goodness and consider joining us both nights.

Joanna Serenko & Tyler Dale are a dynamic musical duo from St. Louis, Missouri, blending soulful vocals with masterful guitar work.

Joanna gained national recognition on The Voice (Season 18), captivating audiences with her rich, expressive voice. Tyler, an accomplished guitarist and country-influenced artist, brings a versatile sound that complements Joanna’s soul-driven style. Together, they create a genre-blending experience that feels both timeless and fresh.

Currently on a year-long coastal tour of the U.S. in their Airstream, they deliver intimate acoustic performances that resonate with authenticity, heart, and raw talent. They each have an album on all streaming platforms – “Salutations” by Tyler Dale and “Best of Me” by Joanna Serenko. Be sure to stream their music and follow along on their journey!

Back by Popular Demand. Not Your Father’s Storytelling! Come join us for an exciting evening of tough, funny, poignant stories from some of NYC's and the Northeast region's most dynamic storytellers!!! Neil Intraub hosts an evening filled with Moth Grand Slam/Story Slam winners who have also been spotlighted on PBS’ Stories From the Stage.

A new play by Dorothy Lyman

Three generations of women meet upstate over President’s Day weekend to decide the fate of their family farm and its matriarch.

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium on May 17 to conduct Strauss’s one-act tragedy, which will be transmitted live from the Metropolitan Opera stage to cinemas worldwide. Leading the company’s first new production of the work in 20 years, Claus Guth, one of Europe’s leading opera directors, gives the biblical story a psychologically perceptive Victorian-era setting. South African soprano Elza van den Heever leads a celebrated cast as the abused and unhinged antiheroine, with Swedish baritone Peter Mattei as the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan; German tenor Gerhard Siegel as Salome’s lecherous stepfather, King Herod; American mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as his wife, Herodias; and Polish tenor Piotr Buszewski as Narraboth.
Part of the FirstLight Home Care Classical Series

A new play by Dorothy Lyman

Three generations of women meet upstate over President’s Day weekend to decide the fate of their family farm and its matriarch.

The Friends of Music at Promisek are proud to sponsor a Salon Concert. We welcome renowned violinist Katie Lansdale and acclaimed actor Caroline Kinsolving in a program of solo violin music complemented by poetry and dramatic monologues.

VIOLIN and VERSE

A Global Adventure for Solo Violin and Speaker

SUNDAY  MAY 18TH 3PM

In our little corner of New England, The Promisek Salon Concert Series has been offering fine music for the last 20 years or so. The former mansion which became St. Cecilia's with the vaulted acoustical ceilings of its great room is an intimate venue ideal for chamber music. After the concert our guests enjoy a champagne reception and a stroll in the adjoining formal garden   

Tickets at the door                                Promisek at Three Rivers

Suggested donation $30                      694 Skline Ridge Road                                 

Limited Seating                                     Bridgewater, CT 06752                                               

For more Information:

dbjstein@gmail.com                 www.//promisek.org/concerts/

Bruce Springsteen Fans….. Interested in seeing the best Springsteen Tribute in CT? Check out the next best thing to seeing Bruce live with Mighty Spectrum Band's "The BRUCE Show!"

The Mighty SPECTRUM Band has a long standing reputation as the most dynamic band in the NY/NJ area. As one of the premier acts from the shores of NJ to the beaches of the Hamptons, the band has built a strong base of loyal fans and friends over the years. A driving Rock'n Roll band coupled with an unmatched horn section has allowed the band to create a repertoire of hundreds of songs. Timeless Classics from Chicago, The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, The J. Geils Band, Elvis Presley, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Joe Cocker and countless others.

📍 With this ticket, you'll enjoy reserved seating in the cozy indoor tasting room, with seating arrangements thoughtfully assigned by our hostess.

Your VIP Experience:

• Exclusive reserved seating in our cozy indoor tasting room

• Up-close and personal interaction with the band – the intimate setting of our tasting room creates a unique opportunity to connect with the musicians during the performance

• A superb selection of wines (minimum $10 drink purchase required per guest)

• Delicious non-alcoholic options available for all to enjoy

• Thoughtfully curated seating arrangements by our hostess for a truly intimate experience

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Ticket is non refundable.

BOOK TICKETS on our website:

https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/service-page/bruce-springsteen-tribute-show

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Monday evening intermediate ride with rotating location. Distance and speed increase as fitness and daylight allows.

Join us on the first and third Mondays of every month for a new release/popular movie!

Check out other library events

Bloom Within - Nurture your inner garden with vibrations and sound.

Jeanine Chayka of Inspired Vibrations is ready to take you on a journey of relaxation, rejuvenation, and soul nourishment. With a combination of guided meditation and sound vibrations, she activates your mind and body to unwind, letting go of pesky stressors and emotional baggage. It is time to let your inner Zen shine! Register and join her for a sound-tastic adventure.

Jeanine is a certified Practitioner of Sound and Vibrational Therapies, certified Practitioner in Reiki Energy 1 & 2 and Meditation guide. She offers individual and group sessions of Sound and Vibrational Healing and Meditation and Sound classes to heal the mind, body and spirit.  Some of her sessions and classes include the accompaniment of her Crystal and Himalayan bowls, chimes,

drums, ocean drum, a rain stick and a variety of sound vibration instruments to heal.

Meditation - Relax and Unwind

Jeanine will offer a guided meditation each class with a focus to bring peace and harmony to your life.  Each class will talk about the energy centers, intentions, and ways to relax and unwind at home between classes. The class will include soft music to allow you to relax throughout the guided meditation and beyond leaving you with a feeling of a deep sleep and a release of any stress and worry that you came with.

Pop Up Option Available

Not sure you can make every class in the full session? Jeanine is delighted to give you the flexibility of Pop Up Classes. Register for as many that fit your schedule as you like.

Residents $25/session

Non-residents $30/session

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

Gentle Mindfulness Yoga 

Let Dawn guide you through gentle yoga moves that are perfect for all levels. Learn breathing and relaxation techniques to take off the mat and out into the real world. Enjoy some stretching and leave class feeling calm and rejuvenated! 

Dawn will then lead you through a gentle, slow flow yoga planned carefully to help the body and mind release tension. Modifications are offered during all classes so that new students as well as seasoned yogis or yoginis can benefit from this nurturing practice.

Breathing techniques designed to alleviate stress both on and off the mat (in the real world, where let's face it most stress happens) will be taught and practiced.

Classes will incorporate the principles of mediation and mindfulness. The goal of this class is that you feel relaxed, rejuvenated and centered when you leave class. Additionally these skills can often help you to manage situational stress/anxiety/tension as it occurs once you step off your mat and head back into the real world.

No yoga or meditation experience necessary. Bring your own yoga mat and a small blanket or beach towel.

Requirements:

Comfortable clothing, your own yoga mat, yoga strap

Instructor:

Dawn Delpha

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Have fun and make friends while cultivating your creativity in our weekly group discussions about art, creativity and so much more! Our facilitated conversations invite participants to consider imaginative and alternative viewpoints about the creative process in a congenial, relaxed Zoom setting. Empower your creativity and feed your brain by joining us in the Creative Collective Discussion Group!

This spring, our exploration into the power of creativity continues with the book Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process, edited by Joe Fassler. A few copies of the book will be available at the Library.

Young students will learn theatre basics, as well as music and choreography. This class is highly recommended before participating in other TW Kids’ Programs.

Showcase Performance on June 7th.

Get ready to stretch, smile, and snuggle at our Puppy Yoga Fundraiser! Join us for one hour on Tuesday, May 20th at 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM for an unforgettable yoga session surrounded by adorable puppies with big dreams to become Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs!

This feel-good event supports the early training and care of our next generation of life-changing service dogs. Every downward dog helps us raise confident, compassionate canines who will go on to support teens and young adults overcoming trauma and mental health challenges.

Spots are limited, so grab your mat and reserve your place now!

Come for the yoga, stay for the puppy kisses, and leave knowing you made a real difference.

The Exceptional Sidekick provides psychiatric service dogs to teens and young adults who’ve experienced trauma and mental health struggles. Our dogs help them regain confidence, build meaningful connections, and stay on track to complete their education.

#PuppyYoga #Fundraiser #ServiceDogsInTraining #ExceptionalSidekick #ServiceDogsKnowHowToHeal

BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS

Please check availability and book this event directly through our event partner's website. Copy and paste the following URL: https://acuteinflections.com/p...

CONNECTICUT, READY FOR A FUN NIGHT OUT? 🧐🎉

Step into elegance with a special Vineyard Chic experience featuring the sensational Music & Comedy of Acute Inflections! 🎙️🤣

You’ve probably seen NYC’s Jazzy R&B artists on HBO or Amazon, and if you love everything from Erykah Badu to Billie Holiday, you’ll adore their Soulful Sounds. 🔥🎵

Dress to impress in your finest Garden Party attire, and get ready for an enchanting evening filled with dynamic duets, witty banter, and engaging freestyles that will have you laughing and grooving all night. Imagine Lucy & Ricky with a sultry, vintage flair. 💃🏽🕺🏽😆

Tickets are selling quickly for this dynamic duo’s performance on Tuesday, May 20th, at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards. 🗓️

This picturesque vineyard nestled in the rolling hills of Newtown sets the stage for an unforgettable evening filled with soulful music, undeniable charm, and stylish vibes! 🎶✨

* Your purchase helps support the Renaissance Youth Center, a South Bronx-based charity that empowers inner-city youth through music education, afterschool programs, and tutoring. *

PLEASE NOTE:

📞 Prefer to order your tickets by phone? Call us at 212.729.8372, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

🛑 Attendees must be at least 21 years old, and outside beverages, including alcohol and water, are not allowed.

🍷 Wine is not included with your ticket, and there is a minimum drink purchase of $10 (plus tax and gratuity) per person.

🧀 Lite bites and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

💃🏽 Put on your finest Vineyard Chic attire for a chance to win a Jazzy Prize!

⏰ Doors open one hour before the show, and the show will start promptly at 7:00 PM.

🎫 Tickets cost $50 at the door, pending availability.

🪑 Your ticket guarantees you’ll have a seat, but seating is first-come, first-served. Arrive early to choose your preferred spot.

✋🏽 Upon arrival, please wait for an usher to assist you with seating.

🎭 This is an intimate theatre-style experience, so please keep your voices to a whisper during our performance.

📸 Feel free to take pics and videos of the concert,

BOOKING LINK:

https://acuteinflections.com/p...

Join us for a fascinating evening of music history as musicologist Gil Harel delves into one of jazz’s most groundbreaking and best-loved recordings: Dave Brubeck’s 1959 album Time Out.

Among the many seminal jazz records released in 1959, Time Out stands apart for its bold exploration of unusual time signatures and metrical patterns. Recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet at Columbia’s famed 30th Street Studio in New York City, the album was inspired in part by the group’s recent State Department-sponsored tour abroad, where they encountered a rich variety of musical traditions and rhythmic structures.

This is a HYBRID program. Register for In-Person or Virtual on our website.

With three GRAMMY wins already under her belt, and her latest recording Portrait already garnering critical raves, the 24-year-old Samara Joy makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation recorded by the venerable Verve Records.

Her voice, rich and velvety, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King and appearances on the TODAY Show, The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show w/ Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and more, in addition to millions of likes on TikTok— securing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz vocal star.

The New York Times praised the “silky- voiced rising star” for “helping jazz take a youthful turn” while NPR All Things Considered named her a “classic jazz singer from a new generation.”
Part of the BMW of Ridgefield Jazz Series

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Merryall Center in New Milford, CT is now accepting submissions for Expressing Motherhood (Connecticut).

Expressing Motherhood is a stage show of personal stories, songs, and skits all about the journey of motherhood. Since 2008, moms have been sharing their stories at Expressing Motherhood performances across the country. Submissions from moms, dads, grandparents, and reflections about mothers are all welcome.

The show is built for the non-famous, non-published, and people who want to get out and express themselves. The average cast consists of ten people. Performers submit in advance and are chosen based on the power of their stories.

Submission deadline - June 30th, 2025. No auditions. Email Submissions to: aschuette@merryallcenter.org

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

If you are struggling with stress, an over-active mind and want to find a new perspective on how mindfulness and meditation can help in navigating the challenges of your everyday life, then join Prabha Makayee as she guides you through the steps of meditation. See what you can accomplish by taking responsibility over what kinds of thoughts you think. With just one second, one breath and one thought of changing your perspective you can realign your well-being to a more peaceful, happy mindset.

Check out other library programs!

Calling all young writers! Muse Squad, a premier creative writing program, is thrilled to bring its inspiring literature-based classes to the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center this spring. Whether your child dreams of crafting magical worlds or exploring classic literature, these engaging workshops are the perfect place to spark creativity and build writing skills.

This season, students will dive into At the Back of the North Wind, the beloved fantasy novel by George MacDonald. Through guided discussions and creative exercises, participants will explore storytelling techniques, develop their own unique voices, and connect with fellow young writers.

📍 Location: Ridgefield Parks & Recreation, 195 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

🌸 Spring 2025 Courses 🌸

✏ North Wind (ages 8 – 12)

📅 Wednesdays | 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

✏ Wonderland (teens 13+)

📅 Wednesdays | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

Muse Squad will also be welcoming their newest instructor, Ms. Brianna Bencosme Bidó, as she joins the Muse Squad team to co-instruct the Ridgefield courses this spring. Bri has a BA in Creative and Professional Writing and is currently working on her M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing at Western Connecticut State University. She is a passionate teaching-artist, poet, and essayist, and Muse Squad cannot wait to introduce her to the wonderful Muse Squad community and all its talented students!

This is a fantastic opportunity for young storytellers to unleash their imagination and refine their writing craft in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Register now to secure a place in one of these exciting classes

Pilates Fusion is a 45min low impact, energizing mindful movement class blending Pilates, Barre + Yoga. Arrive as you are. You'll leave feeling energized! Bring a mat + light weights if you have them.

May 21 - Lauren Chiarello 6pm
June 19 - Lauren Chiarello 6pm
July 24 - Lauren Chiarello 6pm
September 4 - Lauren Chiarello 6pm
October 9 - Lauren Chiarello 6pm

Wine is not included in the ticket. A drink purchase of minimum $10 plus tax and gratuity per participant is required to attend this event and can be made at the vineyard prior to the start of the event, after our staff checks your ID. You're welcome to pick up the drink at the end of this event.

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Ticket is non refundable, only transferable for weather related reasons.

WAIVER
By signing up for this event you agree to the waiver below:

I know that this activity is potentially hazardous and could cause injury. I assume all risks associated with participating in this event, including but no limited to: falls, sprains, contact with other participants, the effects of the weather, all such risks being known and appreciated by me and any other participant included in my reservation. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, as well as for anyone else that I included in my reservation, waive and release Aquila's Nest Vineyards, the class instructor, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this activity.

Get ready to *Feel the Beat* — a funk-groovin’ music night that’ll transport you through the best of the '60s, '70s, and '80s!

Slip into your bell bottoms or neon threads and hit the dance floor to the sounds of classic funk, soul, disco, and retro pop hits. It’s a celebration of good vibes, throwback rhythms, and nonstop fun — come dance, sing, and let the groove take over!

📍 With this ticket, you'll enjoy reserved seating in the cozy indoor tasting room, with seating arrangements thoughtfully assigned by our hostess.

Your VIP Experience:
• Exclusive reserved seating in our cozy indoor tasting room
• Up-close and personal interaction with the band – the intimate setting of our tasting room creates a unique opportunity to connect with the musicians during the performance
• A superb selection of wines (minimum $10 drink purchase required per guest)
• Delicious non-alcoholic options available for all to enjoy
• Thoughtfully curated seating arrangements by our hostess for a truly intimate experience

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Ticket is non refundable.

Seating Chart

Doors open at 6:00pm. Try to be seated by 6:30pm to have your dinner order taken. Showtime begins at 7:00pm when we transform the space into a theater.

Out of respect for the performers and other patrons, please keep talking to a whisper during the performance.

Very Limited Occupancy. Tables seating 2, 4, 5 guests, with tables for 6, 8, 12 available upon request. Single, general admission tickets are also available. See The Attached Seating Chart. Admission Is $15.00 - $25.00 Per Person, Ticket prices may be higher for special performances. Having problems with the ticketing system? Call 203-247-4273

Parking: Please park in LaZingara's lot or on Greenwood Ave. or School Street. Please avoid parking in P.T. Barnum Square.

Check out the band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUMMhijcRMc

Dave Stryker - Guitarist (John Patitucci, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine) Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker fronting his own group (with 35 CD’s as a leader to date), or as a featured sideman with, Stanley Turrentine and Jack McDuff, you know why Gary Giddins in the Village Voice called him "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” Prime is Dave’s most recent recording and features his working trio of Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums. The trio recently opened up for Steely Dan’s 2002 summer tour. On his previous recording As We Are Dave broke new compositional ground for himself with an all-star band featuring John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Julian Shore and a string quartet arranged by Shore. The album made Best of 2022 in Downbeat Readers Poll, Jazz Times and many others, and hit #1 for 2 weeks on the JazzWeek Radio chart. Stryker has been on a roll the last several years with all the recordings (on his label Strikezone Records) reaching the Top 10 and 5 hitting #1 on JazzWeek. Hot House magazine awarded Dave the Best Guitarist Fans Decision for 2017. He was recently voted once again as one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2022 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls for the 15th time. Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, moved to New York City in 1980, and joined organist Jack McDuff’s group (1984-85). From 1986 to 1995, Stryker played with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. He has also performed with Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Heath, Kevin Mahogany, Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano, Steve Slagle and many others. Dave is Adjunct Professor of Jazz Guitar at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Dave’s online teaching school is at www.artistworks.com. His book Dave Stryker’s Jazz Guitar Improvisation Method Vol III is available on his website at www.davestryker.com.

Jared Gold - Organ Organist Jared Gold's emergence as one of the New York area's most in-demand musicians comes from years of dedication and respect to his instrument. With such notable influences as Larry Young, Jack McDuff, and Don Patterson to draw upon as a foundation, the emphasis on finding his own voice has now clearly taken precedence and required Gold to construct his own unique philosophy based on extending harmony and solidifying the groove.

Gold's latest release, titled Metropolitan Rhythm (2015, Posi-Tone), features his working trio of veteran guitarist Dave Stryker and up-and-coming drummer Kush Abadey. Gold ties together big cities from New York to Sao Paulo with three new compositions and some wonderful remakes of familiar songs by a broad spectrum of composers including Paul McCartney, Thelonious Monk, Filó Machado, and Joe Henderson.

Following the successes of his previous seven releases, all on Posi-Tone, Jared has accumulated many accolades, including winning the 2013 Rising Star on Organ critics poll in DownBeat Magazine. His first seven releases are Solids & Stripes (2008), Supersonic (2009), Out Of Line (2010), All Wrapped Up (2011), Golden Child (2012), Intuition (2013), and JG 3+3 (2014).

With the powerful combination of his obvious talent, the blessings of an affable personality and his unbelievable versatility and musicianship on the bandstand, Gold has been provided with the opportunity to work with many established veterans and can be seen performing regularly with his own group and appearing steadily alongside in the working groups and recordings of John Abercrombie, Dave Stryker, Oliver Lake, Ralph Bowen and David Gibson. Gold, a New Jersey native and graduate of William Patterson University's Jazz Program, keeps a busy schedule of domestic and international tours, but can still be found in playing organ on the weekends in local New Jersey churches and running his self started company, JG3 Tech, where Gold builds folding portable midi organs and ultra-lightweight portable midi bass pedals. (www.jg3tech.com)

McClenty Hunter, Jr. - Drummer, Educator, Composer, Arranger
McClenty is a Grammy-nominated drummer who has worked with jazz icons such as Lou Donaldson, Cedar Walton, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Garrett, Buster Williams and Curtis Fuller, among others. In the August 2019 edition of Downbeat magazine, McClenty has been acknowledged as a rising star, as well in Modern Drummer magazine Readers Poll 2017 and in February 2016 edition of Modern Drummer.
In 2017, McClenty debut as a leader and composer on The Groove Hunter (2017) receiving 4 stars in Downbeat magazine, with a raving review in Modern Drummer, among others. His masterful work can also be heard on several notable recordings: Dave Stryker’s hit records Eight Track series (2019), The Stryker & Slagel Band’s Expand (2016), Dave Styrker’s Messin With Mr. T (2015), Javon Jackson’s Live at Smoke: Expression (2013) and Kenny Garrett’s Grammy-nominated LP Pushing The World Away (2013).
McClenty successfully balances an international performance schedule with his role as Director of the KIPP Academy String and Rhythm Orchestra in the South Bronx. As conductor, he has led students in collaborative performances with VH1’s Save the Music Foundation and Robin Hood Foundation featuring artists Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, John Mayer, and Mary J. Blige. McClenty received his Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Howard University in 2005, and completed his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School of Music in 2007.

We're sorry, there are no refunds after tickets have been purchased. In the event of a pandemic, rain, snow, or other forms of weather which prohibit a performance, the performance date will be postponed and rescheduled for another date within a reasonable amount of time. If the new date is postponed, a future alternate date will be picked at the discretion of Bethel Jazz and the musical artist. The ticket holder will be notified of postponements, cancellations, and rescheduled dates via email. Tickets are non-refundable and may be transferred to another person in the event a purchaser cannot make the rescheduled date. In the event, an artist cancels a date, and Bethel Jazz is unable to reschedule the artist, Bethel Jazz reserves the right to provide a substitute performer of equal quality without notice to the ticket purchaser. If a date is canceled and not rescheduled, Bethel Jazz will provide a refund (in some cases minus the Eventbrite fee) or credit for another performance at the choice of the ticket holder. Bethel Jazz will always do its best to accommodate for changes in seating, table sizes, or changes to tickets.

Join us at the Ridgefield Library on Wednesday, May 21st at 7:30 pm for a riveting Author Talk with local author, Rich Cohen, and hear about his investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Jennifer Dulos and the aftershocks that rattled a wealthy suburb. Please register.

Rich Cohen’s Murder in the Dollhouse is the chilling, unputdownable story of Jennifer Dulos, a beautiful, rich suburban mother who dropped her kids off at the New Canaan Country School one morning and vanished. Her body has never been found.

Cohen is the New York Times-bestselling author of Tough Jews, Monsters, Sweet and Low, The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones, The Chicago Cubs, and The Last Pirate of New York, and, with Jerry Weintraub, When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead. He is the co-creator of the HBO series Vinyl, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and a writer at large for Air Mail. He has written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Harper’s Magazine, among other publications. Cohen has won the Great Lakes Book Award, the Chicago Public Library’s 21st Century Award, and the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. He lives in Connecticut.

Books on the Common will have copies for sale and signing.

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Calling all young writers! Muse Squad, a premier creative writing program, is thrilled to bring its inspiring literature-based classes to the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Center this spring. Whether your child dreams of crafting magical worlds or exploring classic literature, these engaging workshops are the perfect place to spark creativity and build writing skills.

This season, students will dive into At the Back of the North Wind, the beloved fantasy novel by George MacDonald. Through guided discussions and creative exercises, participants will explore storytelling techniques, develop their own unique voices, and connect with fellow young writers.

📍 Location: Ridgefield Parks & Recreation, 195 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

🌸 Spring 2025 Courses 🌸

✏ North Wind (ages 8 – 12)

📅 Wednesdays | 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

✏ Wonderland (teens 13+)

📅 Wednesdays | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

🗓 March 19 – May 28

Muse Squad will also be welcoming their newest instructor, Ms. Brianna Bencosme Bidó, as she joins the Muse Squad team to co-instruct the Ridgefield courses this spring. Bri has a BA in Creative and Professional Writing and is currently working on her M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing at Western Connecticut State University. She is a passionate teaching-artist, poet, and essayist, and Muse Squad cannot wait to introduce her to the wonderful Muse Squad community and all its talented students!

This is a fantastic opportunity for young storytellers to unleash their imagination and refine their writing craft in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Register now to secure a place in one of these exciting classes

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join us and other business professionals to connect and network at this informal networking opportunity with Active Health 

* Free and open to the public

* Bring your business cards

* Bring a friend/colleague

* Food and beverages

* Door prizes welcome to help promote your business

Sponsored this month by:

Candlewood Valley Country Club

Ives Bank

Horizon Bound Adventures

Current exhibits on the 1st & 3rd floors include, Pilgrimage Near and Far (1st floor) and Ephemera in Circulation (3rd floor), both of which are part of Secondhand Sacred, a research project in the anthropology of religion. To complement these displays, the curator Dr. James Bielo (Northwestern University) will give us an introduction to how this work got started and how it has evolved to feature public exhibitions here at the C. H. Booth Library and at the University of Chicago. Previous C. H. Booth Library exhibits in the Fall and Winter of 2024 included Domestic Devotion and (Ir)Reverent Fun. 

Come play music, recite poetry, tell a story, or show off another talent!

Keep in mind this is an all ages event in a public venue. We trust you to make good choices about appropriate material.

This is an LGBTQIA+ inclusive and welcoming event series. No cover fee but minimum one drink purchased required (show Molten some love, y’all!)

Performance slots are assigned on a first come, first served basis IN PERSON. No times will be held or assigned before the event starts. Get there early to grab your spot!

The exhibition Karen Neems: Orchestrated Realities features digital and mixed-media collage artworks by Neems that contain "orchestrated realities and perceptual puzzles." We hope you will join us for the artist's reception on Saturday, April 26th from 2 pm – 4 pm, which is free and open to the public. We'll have art, conversation, and light refreshments. The show runs during our regular business hours 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday from April 14th – July 3, 2025.

Karen Neems is an artist based in Stamford, Connecticut who has had numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in the Northeast. Last year, she was among ten photographic artists included in an exhibition called In/Sight at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Whether she is creating collages digitally or cutting and pasting prints and other media, Neems says she chooses “to use photography to explore the relationships between images I observe and record, rather than for its documentary aspect.”

For more information about the artist and exhibition, please see the webpage for the exhibition and Karen Neems’ website

Daydream © Karen Neems

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join us in a celebration of the world’s turtles. Come meet our resident turtles and tortoises, learn what makes each special, and make a simple turtle craft.

This program is:
Free.

Registration required. Please register at www.newpondfarm.org

Mushroom Magic: Medicinal Mushrooms Workshop with Reishi, Chaga, Lion's Mane, + Turkey Tail

Embark on a fascinating journey into the world of medicinal mushrooms with our immersive workshop featuring Reishi, Chaga, Lion's Mane, and Turkey Tail. Explore the extraordinary benefits of these natural wonders, from immune support with Reishi to cognitive nourishment with Lion's Mane. Dive into a hands-on experience as you craft your own Reishi mushroom tincture.

This workshop will run from 6:30 to 7:45pm, and afterwards you're welcome to enjoy more wine at Aquila's Nest Vineyards beautiful Indoor Tasting Room.

Wine is not included in the ticket. A drink purchase of minimum $10 plus tax and gratuity per participant is required to attend this event and can be made at the vineyard prior to the start of the event, after our staff checks your ID.

Outside Alcohol Beverages, Water Bottles or Any Other Beverages are NOT allowed to be brought in the premises of the vineyard. This is a restriction of our Farm Winery Permit. Our staff reserves the right to check bags and coolers.

Herbal workshops are for educational and entertainment purposes only and do not take the place of a qualified health practitioner.

All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Ticket is non refundable.

Doors at 6:30pm ~ Show at 7pm.

Live in the Backspace [not in the Biergarten!]

Join us for “Both Sides Now”, a collection of songs by Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile. Led by North Carolina native and Broadway veteran Julie Foldesi, the band brings together Tracy and Dan Carlucci, Julia Brion, and Bob Csugie. Come enjoy an evening of music celebrating these two masterful musicians.

Julie Foldesi - vocals / guitar / piano

Tracy Carlucci - piano / vocals

Dan Carlucci - guitars / vocals

Bobby Csugie - bass / vocals

Julia Brion - drums / percussion / vocals

plus special guests...

Walrus Outpost food truck serving till 8:30pm

A new play by Dorothy Lyman

Three generations of women meet upstate over President’s Day weekend to decide the fate of their family farm and its matriarch.

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Six decades into her career, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work. Joining Collins for this special evening are members of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra to bring her chamber-folk masterwork to full bloom.
Part of the 

Young students will learn theatre basics, as well as music and choreography. This class is highly recommended before participating in other TW Kids’ Programs.

Showcase Performance on June 7th.

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce a new solo art show featuring the work of Dina Belyayeva, entitled The Travel Journal. This exhibit will be on view from May 16th through June 14th in the Lower Level Gallery.  

All are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, May 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Dina Belyayeva is a New England-based, Russian-born contemporary realist painter. She is a member of art associations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Her works received awards at competitive juried exhibitions and found homes in private collections in the US and internationally. Learn more.

Exhibition Statement:

Life is full of interesting twists and turns. We travel to far-away lands, trying to find inspiration and solace, travel with companions to share the joy of discovery, cross oceans to see the loved ones and run away from loss and sorrow. The cliché of enjoying the journey is as true as the significance of the destinations we reach and the places we see and experience. What we find in those places and in ourselves will be the invisible load that will shape the road ahead.

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Just in time for warmer weather! In this 2 hour workshop Andrea Dener will teach you how to properly create a beautiful, and useful, macrame plant hanger. You will leave this workshop with a ready to go planter and the knowledge of how to make more on your own! One clay pot is included with this workshop (plant not included). This workshop is $15 with an additional $15 materials fee paid to the instructor the day of class, cash or checks accepted!

Kickoff the summer Memorial Day Weekend outside at the legendary Redding Roadhouse with two sets of your favorite Allman Brothers tunes performed by Faster Things.

This powerhouse tribute to the Allman Brothers Band has been earning rave reviews from fans and venues alike. Their performances capture the spirit, energy, and musicianship of the original band, leaving audiences thrilled and wanting more.

Their soulful vocals and instrumental skills bring the Allman Brothers’ music to life with passion and authenticity. Fans consistently praise their ability to create an electric atmosphere that gets the crowd dancing, singing along and fully immersed.

The Roadhouse kitchen will be open with a full menu plus some specials and the bar will be serving full selection of beer, wines and spirits.

Show will be outside on the patio. All tables will be first come/first serve.

Grab your tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/buy-tickets-here/summer-kickoff

Tickets are $15 Adv/$20 Day of. Rain date is Sunday, May 25th

More info at: https://fasterthingsabb.com