Archive for the 'Cultural Resources' Category
2 Blockbuster Virtual Museums: History of Ridgefield and Redding
February 5th, 2010 categories: Cultural Resources, Redding, Ridgefield
Ridgefield, CT and Redding, CT History
You know how when you travel to new places, you take in the history. Like the Old North Church in Boston or the Tower of London. Then you might make your way to the museum that chronicles the entire history of a city or region. Most Fairfield County towns have a local historical society and maybe even a website. Well, what I found are a couple of blockbuster websites that track the varied history of 2 of Connecticut’s most-loved towns: Ridgefield and Redding. These are by far the best virtual museums in Fairfield County!
History of Redding will take you back before the revolutionary war and delight you with photos and stories of Georgetown, the great flood, and Mark Twain. Brent Colley shepards a complete set of Redding history for historians, readers and browsers alike.
Ridgefield’s own Jack Sanders provides netizens with another local history powerhouse of a website: Ridgefield Names. Jack has compiled the history of hundreds of local names including roads and geographical features. Mopus Bridge, Ketcham Road and Wallis’ Hoghole to name a few.
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How Talking Sidewalks Can Teach You the History of Ridgefield, CT
December 1st, 2009 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Keep Your Kids Busy, Local Events
Imagine strolling down Main Street and learning all the local history along the way. With Ridgefield’s Museum in the Streets, it’s as if the sidewalks are telling you the storied past of each historical building, landmark and monument in town. As part of Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary celebration, the Museum in the Streets program has been installed all along the downtown sidewalks for all to enjoy.
Residents, visitors, day-trippers and school kids have been enjoying the displays that arrived last month. Numbering over 30 in all, these markers offer a glimpse into Ridgefield’s first 300 years. They are full of old pictures, stories and facts that have led to the present-day New England town as we know it.
You’ll find “Museum Markers” at Ballard Park, Town Hall, The Library and more that provide pedestrians with colorful descriptions of “what happened here”. It’s also a great way to spend time together with your kids.
Walk through town and look for the markers. Take a little extra time to enjoy Ridgefield’s Museum in the Streets.
The Museum in the Streets heritage discovery trails can also be found in these US and French towns.
Related Posts on Real Estate Chocolate:
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
- Ridgefield Connecticut Quiz Bowl – 20th Century History Test
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Art Walk – Another Awesome Ridgefield 300th Event You Can’t Miss
August 12th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Local Events, Ridgefield
The streets of Ridgefield come alive with home grown art this Saturday night August 16. Local Ridgefield artists will transform Main Street stores into art galleries as the Ridgefield 300th Anniversary Celebration hosts the first-ever Art Walk Ridgefield.
Several of our Ridgefield friends including Jean Linville and Noelle Carr are participating artists and our Keller Williams office is hosting some of their work.
This unique event will kick off in Ballard Park at 5:30 p.m. with a lively talk about “300 Years of Art in Ridgefield,” and maps will be provided showing participating Art Walk businesses. Children’s artwork will be displayed in Deborah Ann’s Chocolates and the Orange Elephant.
Check out the Ridgefield 300th website for information on this great event as well as all the other special events throughout the year.
See these other posts on Real Estate Chocolate:
- How Talking Sidewalks Can Teach You the History of Ridgefield, CT
- Local Ridgefield Artist Shows at Norwalk’s Chocopologie!
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
- What You Need to Know About Ridgefield’s 300th Birthday Celebration
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The 5 Best Ways to Chill Indoors in Ridgefield This Summer
July 30th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Keep Your Kids Busy, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield
The sun doesn’t always shine around here. And sometimes it shines too bright so you need a respite from the heat and humidity. Here’s 5 great ways to beat the heat and entertain yourself and your family indoors this summer.
Enjoy the Great INDOORS in Ridgefield, CT
- WEIR FARM -Weir farm has served as home and inspiration to 3 generations of artists. The art center sustains the legacy of American Artist J. Alden Weir. This National Historic Site (operated by the National Park Service) offers guided tours, art history programs and an art gallery throughout the summer. NOTE: Indoor gallery is not air conditioned.
- DANBURY DUCK PIN LANES – Small pins big fun! Never been? You gotta try duck pin bowling. These are small pins and small bowling balls and it great family fun. Great for kids birthaday parties too. Learn more: Small Pins Offer Bowlers a Big Challenge – New York Times
- SUGARBEADS – This beading studio in Copps Hill Common provides the best selection of the finest beads found today. Everyone, novice to professional will be comfortable stringing this extraordinary collection beads (over 5000 types).
- THE RIDGEFIELD LIBRARY – The Ridgefield Ferguson Library is more than just books! The library folks provide programs and activities all summer long. Reading programs for kids and adults, a movie series and more. Check it all out at their website.
- THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE – The Ridgefield Playhouse sure doesn’t take the summer off. World class Live music, comedy and first-run movies right right here in town! Don’t miss The Second City Comedy Troop, Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Rankin or the new Kitt Kittredge movie.
- THE RIDGEFIELD RECREATION CENTER – Enjoy the pool, gym and workout facilities all summer long. The Ridgefield Rec Center offers organized activites including basketball, yoga, dog obedience, ballroom dance, swimming lessons and more.
Related Posts:
- The 5 Best Ways to Chill in Ridgefield This Summer
- How Talking Sidewalks Can Teach You the History of Ridgefield, CT
- Now You Can Have Local Organic Food and Live Healthier in Ridgefield
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
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The 5 Best Ways to Chill in Ridgefield This Summer
July 18th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate
Summertime in Ridgefield is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy what makes living here so much fun. The menu of things to do to is limitless. Here I’ve pulled together 5 great outdoor activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Ridgefield, CT
- CHIRP – Catch a CHIRP concert in Ballard Park. Every Tuesday night Ridgefielders enjoy some of the best live music from around the world. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket and enjoy the show.
- GREAT POND at MARTIN PARK – Beat the heat at Ridgefield’s Martin Park. Enjoy the sandy town beach on Great Pond. Lifeguards are on duty everyday from Memorial Day through Labor day. Bring your lunch and eat in the picnic pavilion. Swim out to the floats, swim lessons available. Open 10:00 – 7:00 every day.
- BENNETTS POND STATE PARK – Hiking trails abound in Bennetts Pond State Park. Located partly on land where the Famous Fox Hill Inn once stood, Bennetts Pond offers the best hiking in the region. This trail system offers miles and miles of fireroads, meadows, rock formations, forests and hills. Trails interconnect with Lakes Windwing, Pine Mountain and Hemlock Hills recreation areas.
- RIDGEFIELD FARMERS MARKET – Bring home Summer’s bounty from the Ridgefield Farmers Market. Pick up the finest locally grown, organic produce, artisan breads and more to make your weekend eating truly spectacular. The Ridgefield Farmers Market is open every Friday from 3:00 – 6:00 on the green across the parking lot from Cellar XV on Danbury Road.
- SALE-A-BRATION – Shop yourself silly and have a blast at this summer’s Sale-A-Bration, Ridgefield’s annual Main Street event. Tied into this year’s 300th Anniversary celebration, Main Street is closed for the festivities featuring dancing, bands, clowns and Ridgefield’s fantastic local merchants. Don’t miss it – TOMORROW!
Related Posts:
- How Talking Sidewalks Can Teach You the History of Ridgefield, CT
- Now You Can Have Local Organic Food and Live Healthier in Ridgefield
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
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Local Ridgefield Artist Shows at Norwalk’s Chocopologie!
May 25th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Local Events, Ridgefield
In keeping with our chocolate theme and our love of arts, culture and great foods, here’s a show you should not miss! One of
my Rainbow Lake neighbors, Noelle Carr, is a fine artist and will be the featured artist at Gallery Chocopologie from May 19 through July as part of a summer show. Chocopologie is a cafe, gallery and retail store opertated by world-renowned Knipschildt Chocolatier in historic South Norwalk, Connecticut. The mix of fine chocolate and fine art makes for an intoxicating environment to stimulate the senses on a multitude of levels.
Ridgefielder Noelle Carr paints contemporary botanical portraits that celebrate flowers on a cellular level. Each painting focuses on the beauty and splendor of each singular flower variety she chooses to paint. Through her use of color, paint texture, and technique, Ms. Carr brings life to the canvas through her subjects and her work is intended to convey the meaning and significance flowers play in all aspects of our lives from jubilation to grief.
Chocopologie is located at 12 South Main Street, Norwalk CT 06854. For more information on the artist, this show and for gallery hours go to: www.NoelleCarr.com
We hope to see you there!
Must Read:
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
- The Raw Deal! Top 5 Sushi Restaurants around Ridgefield, Redding & Wilton, CT
- How to Savor Fine Wines and Save Animals in Ridgefield, CT
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How to Savor Fine Wines and Save Animals in Ridgefield, CT
May 12th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Local Events, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield
Rob and I are very proud announce that we will be the exclusive real estate sponsors for ROAR’s (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) 6th Annual Woofs Wines & Felines event on June 7, 2008. This exciting and fun wine tasting extravaganza is one of Ridgefield’s most successful fund raising events. It’s held every year under a big tent in the grassy field across from Cellar XV Wine Market.
Enjoy music from “The Loft“, while sampling more than 60 wines from around the world and delicious gourmet food provided by Bailey’s Backyard, Bernard’s, Gail’s on the Common, Piccolo Pizza & Toozy Patza, Southwest Cafe, Wild Baby Greens Catering, Whistle Stop Bakery, Ridgefield Organic Market and Ridgefield Prime
All proceeds from Woofs, Wines and Felines go to ROAR to help hundreds or dogs and cats find much needed homes every year. You can even buy raffle tickets to win a trip to California Wine Country, a 30 Bottle Wine Cellar or a Richard Budman original painting!
We’ve had a great time at Woofs, Wines & Felines in years past, and this year promises to be the best one yet. Please stop by our table to say “Cheers!” and to pick up some treats for you and your pets.
Please purchase your tickets in advance TODAY! Click Here To Buy Tickets (They are more expensive at the door.) or make a Donation .
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
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The Raw Deal! Top 5 Sushi Restaurants around Ridgefield, Redding & Wilton, CT
March 27th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton
The Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton area has some great sushi restaurants! I’ve been a sushi lover since I was twelve and I’ve dined at the best and most famous Sushi joints around the world: New York, Sydney, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Living in Connecticut, I’ve found some of the best restaurants serving sushi:
1) Ichiro Japanese Restaurant 69 Newtown Rd Danbury, CT 06810 (203) 792-8881
This is my personal favorite sushi restaurant in the area. It used to be a diner and is located near the Walmart on Newtown Road in Danbury. What a surprise! When you walk in, you forget that you walked into a former diner, and are greeted by some of friendliest folks in the restaurant business. You can either choose to eat in the Hibachi area (also very good) or at the regular restaurant with a Sushi Bar. The fish is fresh and the portions are sizable! The rolls are creative and the prices are very reasonable, which makes Ichiro this blogger’s top pick!
2) Koo Restaurant 470 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877- (203) 431-8838
Either grab a seat at the bar (The bartender, John is the best in Fairfield County!) or eat at the sushi bar or at a table. This innovative, trendy, Japanese fusion restaurant serves the freshest and most interesting array of Sushi in the area! Bring a suitcase full of cash, though…it ain’t cheap!
3) Mannen Japanese Restaurant 15 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield, CT – 203-438-8727
This Ridgefield favorite serves Japanese and Chinese food that is consistently good. They also deliver within Ridgefield, which makes it very convenient. The Sushi is always fresh and the portions are ample. Just like a Old Faithful, you can always rely on Mannen.,
4) Panda House 93 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 – (203) 743-6080
Just north of the Ridgebury section of Ridgefield in Danbury, this Chinese/Japanese combo serves up some good, fresh fish in a clean and convenient environment. Their Chinese food is by far the best this side of the George Washington Bridge! You just can’t go wrong at Panda House!
5) Taipei Tokyo 15 Backus Ave, Danbury,CT 06810 – 203-792-8888
If you’ve shopped till you drop at the Danbury Fair Mall and need a Sushi fix, drop into Taipei Tokyo just next store in The Christmas Tree Shops shopping center. This is a good old fashion Japanese/Chinese combo restaurant that serves consistently good food. Nothing truly special, but convenient, reasonable and friendly.
Rate and review these additional restaurants that serve Sushi in the area:
Sakura Japanese Restaurant 203-222-0802 • 680 Post Rd East, Westport,CT 06880
Kabuki Japanese Steak House 39 Lake Avenue Ext, Danbury,CT – 203-744-6885
Empire Szechuan 113 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield – (203) 431-0488
Sushi Koshi 15 River Rd, Wilton,CT 203-761-6770
Leave us a comment below and tell us what you like!
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Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
March 9th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton
When I moved to Ridgefield from Manhattan in 2001, I was not sure whether I was going to have culture shock when I settled in, or whether there was going to be any culture here at all! I have been pleasantly surprised to find not only a vibrant arts community here, but, a bevy of high-caliber arts institutions, theaters and organizations in and around the area. You will be amazed at how much there is to do and see for the arts conscious… Here is just a sampling.
The Venues for Art and the Performing Arts Near Ridgefield, Wilton and Redding
The Ridgefield Playhouse is Ridgefield’s answer to a Las Vegas show theater on a, well, smaller, less flashy scale. The Cass
Gilbert designed theater is the perfect venue for top dance, music, theater, comedy and magic performances from around the world. It is also our only movie house in Ridgefield, and shows first-run films, changing from week to week.
The Ridgefield Theater Barn has been providing quality live theater productions to Ridgefield and the surrounding communities for 42 years. The theater offers a comfortable, intimate setting with cabaret seating for most events. I have performed in two productions at “the barn”, “Is There Life After High School?”, a musical, and most recently a play reading of “5 Minute Date”, and original script by local Ridgefield playwright, Jean Goldsmyth. It was both an honor and a privilege to work with Jean and some very talented local actors.
The Ridgefield Guild of Artists is a regional and community-based art organization that promotes the visual arts and arts education by providing high quality gallery space for exhibitions, art classes for children and adults, opportunities for artist-in residency programs, and art lectures on-site and in collaboration with other cultural organizations. It is amazing to see the talent and energy created by a local arts project. On May 3, 2008, the Guild will be holding an event called “Paint The Town” to celebrate Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary. More information to come on Real Estate Chocolate.
The Wilton Playshop has been a part of Wilton’s cultural cornucopia for nearly 70 years, making it one of the longest continuously running community theatres in the northeast. The Playshop caters to a wide variety of theatrical tastes with up to five major productions during its season which runs from October to August.
The Ridgfield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is another one of Ridgefield’s cultural gifts. The Orchestra debuted on April 4, 1965, and since then has grown to a full-scale orchestra of 70 to 100 professional musicians. The RSO has engaged a number of Music Directors during its history including Beatrice Brown for 25 years and Sidney Rothstein who became its Music Director in 1996. The RSO is currently searching for a new Music Director and four of the finalists will be engaged for the 2007-08 Season. One permanent Music Director will be selected at the close of the season, and the audiences will participate.
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is one of the few non-collecting, world renown, contemporary art museums in the United States. The Aldrich was founded on Ridgefield’s historic Main Street in 1964. Exhibitions feature work by emerging and mid-career artists, and education programs is targeted at helping adults and children to “connect to today’s world through contemporary art”. The Museum is located at 258 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
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What You Need to Know About Ridgefield’s 300th Birthday Celebration
January 6th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Keep Your Kids Busy, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate
Join in the fun as we celebrate Ridgefield’s 300th Birthday! Our very own Tercentennial party just started and the celebration will last the throughout 2008. Settled by a small group of settlers in 1708, our 35 square-mile section of the world offers a rich history of war, agriculture, architecture, art and business. And for the next 12 months. well be reliving it!
Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversay Celebration
There’s an entire website devoted to the celebration, Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary. The 300th Anniversary Committee has produced an unbelievable calendar of eventsfrom January through December with more than 5 dozen events, performances and exhibitions to commemorate this great birthday. Giftware and souvenirs will be available to accompany the fun. A Ridgefield Tercentennial Letterboxing Adventure has even been created. Letterboxing workshops will start in March and this adventure will provide fun and joy throughout the spring.
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