Path in CT Historical Society (photo courtesy of CarbonNYC on flickr.com)

Although many towns in Central Connecticut are considered to be on the small side as far as size goes, there are numerous museums, historical societies, and art outlets in the central Connecticut area.

In Meridian CT the Kidcity Children’s Museum and the Meriden Historical Museum can provide educational entertainment for an afternoon. 

In Middletown CT, the Davison Art Center and another Kidcity Children’s Museum call this city home.  In the surrounding area there is the Berlin CT Historical Society and the Thankful Arnold House in Haddam CT. 

Of course all of these Central Connecticut museums plus the various art exhibits and art and craft fairs that travel through the Central CT area interject culture into the various towns. 

Art Tatta can tell you more about Central Connecticut’s museum and art community. Art Tatta, a Central CT real estate agent, can be reached at 860-638-4221 or by visiting his website.

Living in a Central Connecticut Home affords you the opportunity to easily take advantage of all that Yale Arts has to offer. Since Yale University is one of the finest universities in our entire country, it is not surprising that it has taught some of the United State’s most elite actors, playwrights, artists, architects, musicians, composers and museum professionals. Some notable graduates that continue to succeed are Wendy Wasserstein, Meryl Streep, Richard Stoltzman, Maya Lin, Norman Foster and Chuck Close. With its two major art museums, highly successful repertory theatre, wonderful concert halls and highly respected Schools of Music, Drama, Art and Architecture there is more than enough to see and do.

For more information go to the Arts at Yale website.

In the historic downtown area of Cromwell is where the 14th annual Riverport Festival will be held from Thursday, July 30th through Sunday, August 2nd. All of the exciting happenings will be located in the block between Main Street, West Street and Community Field Road. Main Street will not be closed off. There will be various booths for local associations, charitable and civic groups and local businesses where they can show off their give-aways, events, programs, as well as products. It all starts on Thursday, July 30th at 6:00 p.m. with various amusements and food provided by Imperial Shows. The evening ends at 10 p.m. Continue with the fun on Friday, July 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. by enjoying rides, food and music performances by local entertainers. Saturday, August 1st is an all day extravaganza with amusements, stage entertainers, food and vendors to be enjoyed from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The final day of the festival, Sunday, August 2nd goes from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. with its last day of food and amusements. Enjoy!

For more information about the Cromwell Riverport Festival contact Lori McKnight at 860-221-5985.

The Fourth of July always conjures thoughts of barbecues, family and friend get-togethers, and lots of fireworks. This holiday celebration would not be complete without them, but there are ways to stay safe and have fun. Under State of Connecticut law, only sparklers and certain fountains are legal. A fountain is a stationary firework that releases a shower of sparks. You must be 16 or older to purchase them here. If you will be enjoying fireworks in your own backyard this year, it is a good idea to keep a bucket of water nearby. This is also helpful as a place to put used sparklers into, so they don’t end up on the ground potentially burning little feet.

Middletwon Fireworks Festival is being held this evening at dusk on the Municipal Building Lawn. Portland’s fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 18th at 9:15 p.m. on the Portland Fairgrounds. Wallingford’s fireworks will be held this Friday the 3rd of July at Dusk at the Sheehan High School.

For more information on Fireworks Safety go to the National Council On Fireworks Safety

The Hartford Stage is chock full of interesting productions to see this summer and throughout the year. Located in Hartford, this theatre has award-winning non-profit professional theatre available to all. During the year, there are six large theatrical productions going on and during the summer there are one or two. The Hartford Stage enjoys offering an eclectic mix of productions that range from classics like “Romeo and Juliet” to more modern interests such as “Spunk”.

The Hartford Stage boasts recognition from the illustrious Tony Awards, the OBIEs, and the New York Critics Circle Awards. There have been a wide range of well-known and respected actors who have worked on the Hartford Stage, such as Calista Flockhart, Ed O’Neill, Angela Bassett, Ellen Burstyn, and Jean Stapleton - to name just a few. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see high quality theatre in “your own backyard.”

For more information about The Hartford Stage visit the website at Hartford Stage.

Located in Middletown’s historic North End, the Green Street Arts Center is a gem when it comes to satisfying residents hunger for the arts. A collaboration between Wesleyan University, the City of Middletown and the North End Action Team, this Arts Center is affiliated with the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, which is a nationwide association of non-profit community schools of art that was founded in 1937. It serves as a place for people from twenty-five surrounding towns to come and enjoy various events, exhibitions, classes and workshops. Opened in 2005, the Center is a three-story facility that boasts a sound recording studio, a dance and visual art performance studio, a couple of computer labs and a space that works beautifully for community get-togethers. Green Street Arts Center’s mission was based on the idea that the center would help revitalize Middletown’s North End, and by its popularity, I say it has succeeded!

For more information about events and classes go to Green Street Arts Center.

It is hard to believe that this deal is actually being offered, but by purchasing the Connecticut Art Trail’s Art Pass you will be able to visit all fifteen participating museums for only $25. The pass is valid for a two-week period that you determine when you purchase it. You simply purchase it on-line at www.arttrail.org and print out the vouchers when needed. Children under twelve are free when accompanied by an adult. The following is a list of the participating Connecticut treasures and their locations:

• Weir Farm National Historic Site, Wilton/Ridgefield
• Center For Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk
• Bush-Holley Historic Site, Cos Cob/Greenwich
• Bruce Museum, Greenwich
• Yale Center for British Art, New Haven
• Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven
• Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center, Waterbury
• Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield
• The William Benton Museum of Art, U.Conn, Mansfield/Storrs
• The Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich Free Academy Campus, Norwich
• Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London
• Florence Griswald Museum, Old Lyme
• Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford
• Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
• New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain

For more information and to purchase the Art Pass go to Arttrail.org.

Dancers (Clearly Ambiguous on flickr.com)

The New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas is set to begin on Tuesday, June 16 through June 27th. 

This fantastic festival will be hosting a variety of cultural and art events and a variety of venues. 

Everything from theater productions to music events and even food demonstrations & tastings will be included this year. 

Ticket packages to see every event are $340 per ticket, and tickets to just see the three concert series at the Yale Law School Courtyard are $75 for the package. 

Of course plenty of free events are offered as well as for individual events, so please see the schedule here. 

For more information on the New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas, please contact Art Tatta, a New Haven real estate agent.