11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, CT 06039. Phone: 860-435-3775.

The ninth season of the Hotchkiss School Summer Portals Chamber Music Series opens with its  first concert  July 2, 2012 at 7:30PM in the Katherine M. Elfers Hall at the Esther Eastman Music Center.  Portals music artistic director Melvin Chen and the 2012 Portals resident quartet, three of whom are new to the program will perform works by Gideon Klein, Clara Schumann and Antonin Dvooak.  Admission to the concerts are free.  Check the website for further concerts during the month of July.

12 Daycoeton Place, Torrington, CT 06790. Phone: 860-489-6684.

The Torrington Library will offer an American Author Lecture Series to study the life and times of playwright Tennessee Williams, poets Sylvia Plath and Edgar Allan Poe, and novelists Zelda and F. Scot Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck and Gertrude Stein.  The schedule is as follows:  Tennessee Wiliams, 6PM, Thursday, Feb. 3; Sylvia Plath, 6PM, Thursday April 7; Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, 6PM, Thursday, June 2; John Steinbeck, 6PM, Thursday, August 4; Edgar Allan Poe, 6PM, Thursday, Oct. 6; and Gertrude Stein, 6PM, Thursday, December 1, 2011.  Registration is ongoing throughout the year.  For information or to register, call the library.  Check the website for further information.

5 Wykeham Road, Washington, CT 06793. Phone: 860-868-7586.

The Naturalist's Studio – "Branching Out"--15 Artist's using various mediums – February 25th to April 29th--Reception February 25th from 12 to 2 pm. The Stairwell Gallery at Gunn Memorial Library in Washington, CT is delighted to announce the opening of a new exhibit featuring the work of fifteen artists from The Naturalist's Studio.   The exhibit will be up from February 25th to April 29th and may be viewed during normal library hours. A reception will be held February 25th from 12 to 2pm. In the summer of 2004, a class entitled Botanical Drawing taught at the Washington Art Association by Banjie Nicholas evolved to a new level.  At the request of the students, color was introduced and it became Botanical Painting and Drawing. Ms. Nicholas is a licensed wild bird rehabilitator.  She also raises a variety of silkworm moths and butterflies.  Wanting to share her artful observations of nature with likeminded artists, she inspired them to share their own collection of fauna and flora.  Before long a core group of students were painting and drawing bee's nests, bones, dragonflies, feathers, bugs and shells.  Thus, the genesis of The Naturalist's Studio, a group of likeminded artists and now friends supporting one another with their goals and projects. Employing mediums such as gouache, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, egg tempera, silverpoint, sculpture and graphite, they generate a creative energy that transcends medium and benefits all. Frannie Aeschliman, Ted Dove, Eileen Field, Mary Hawvermale, Richard Heys, Roxana Laughlan, Phyllis McGoldrick, Marge Muzyczka, Sarah Payson, Martha Schwerdtle, Ted Schwerdtle, Faith Stewart-Gordon, Gertrude Thiel and Cherra Wyllie are class members and artists who have met in Warren at Banjie's studio on Friday mornings for many years. You will want to stop by and see this wonderful show depicting chipmunks, eggshells and more!

Station Place, Norfolk, CT 06058. Phone: 860-542-5055.

On Friday, April 1, 2011 the Artisans Guild of Norfolk will reopen after a three year hiatus at the Royal Arcanum Building on Station Place.  Returning and new artisans are Laura Nichols of Pig Pen Pottery and Trent Link who makes artful signs.  Guild hours: January thru June: Friday and Saturday 10AM to 5PM and Sunday from noon to 4PM.  July thru November: Wednesday to Saturday  10AM to 5PM and Sunday Noon to 4PM; Hours are 10AM to 5PM daily in December.

7 South Street, Litchfield, CT 06759. Phone: 860-567-4501.

The Historical Society will feature an exhibit in honor of the launch of The Ledger—an innovative new online database of students from the Litchfield Law School and Litchfield Female Academy. The exhibit explores the interconnectedness of Law School and Female Academy students and their descendants, and includes portraits as well as pieces created by Female Academy pupils. Also on view this year at the Litchfield History Museum is Goods for Sale! Cash, Credit, and Trade in Litchfield, 1790--1850, an exhibition that focuses on Litchfield's economic history through objects created by local artisans and tradesmen.  April 9 through the November 27, Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00pm.

7 South Street - On the Green, Litchfield, CT 06759. Phone: 860-567-4501.

Every Sunday from April 10 to November 27, excluding holidays at 1 - 4 p.m. Stop by for fun, game, or to learn a new skill. Activies will range from outdoor games to quill pen writing to ice cream making. Visit the website for more information.

5 Wykeham Road, Washington, CT Phone: 860.868.7756.

The encampment and ceremonies coincide with the opening of the exhibit from 10am-4pm on Sunday May 1st. The museum is open: Thursday through Saturday, 10am-4pm and Sunday from 12pm-4pm. Free admission, donations greatly appreciated.

32 North Main Street, Kent, CT 06757. Phone: 860-668-3896.

Main St. Rte. 7, Kent, CT 06757. Phone: 860-927-3761. From Memorial Day through Columbus Day the "in place" to be in Kent is the summer-long book sale in front of Kent Memorial Library (Friday-Sunday). Here you will find an astonishing array of books of all sorts, for all readers young and old. Fridays: 12 pm-5 pm, Saturdays: 10 am-5 pm, Sundays: 12 pm-5 pm, Mondays recognized as National Holidays: 10 am-5 pm.

43 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810. Phone: (203) 743-5200.

Twenty display cases, filled to the brim, will feature over 300 ladies hats from the museum collection – caps, bonnets, felts, furs whimsies, pillboxes and more.  The exhibit showcases hat design from the colonial period through the mid-20th century along with hat related accessories An entire wall in Huntington Hall will be dedicated to articles of ephemera including historic newspaper advertisements and city directory listings related to the millinery trade in Danbury. Vintage photos and antique postcards from our archives illustrate styles and trends. Three Centuries of Women's Hats in Danbury' exhibit will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Suggested donation for viewing the exhibit is $5.00. 10 a.m Ribbon Cutting June 4 with First Lady of Danbury, Phyllis Boughton at the Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority.

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790. Phone: 860-482-8260.

Torrington Historical Society has just opened a new, temporary exhibit about the history of Downtown Torrington.  It featues 100 fascinating historic photographs of Torrington's center and provides an opportunity to better understand and appreciate this historic district.  Using photographs from the Society's collection, the exhibit shows how the center has changed from a sparsely populated village with wooden buildings and dirt roads to a Downtown that is filled with architectural gems that now comprise a National Register Historic District.   The exhibit will run through October 29th and will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 12-4PM.  The show will also be open on the evening of August 11th during the Main Street Marketplace from 5 to 9PM.  There is a suggested donation of $3.