Foodies rejoice! Greenwich Restaurant Week returns from Monday, April 1 to Sunday, April 7th 2024. Eat, drink. and celebrate in Greenwich with special price-fixe offers for only one week!
There is a great list of restaurants all offering their own menu for restaurant week. Among the Greenwich eateries are Bianca, Bistro V, , Coffee For Good, Elm Street Oysters, Grigg Street Pizza, Little Pub, Hinoki, l’escale, La Taqueria, Tony’s J House and so much more.
This is a great way to sample some of the exciting dining right in your own back yard. Each restaurant will have a special restaurant week menu and price.
The New York International Auto Show is back at the Javits Center from March 29th to April 7th. The show is a delight for all ages. You can see hundreds of new cars as well as concept cars from a number of manufacturers. Among the companies displaying their cars will be Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, Jeep, Subaru, Kia, Genesis, Volkswagen, Bentley, Porsche, Honda and so much more.
The iconic Ford Mustang is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a very special display. There are also displays of vintage New York City police cars, the cars of Robert Downey, Jr., Hot Rods, and more.
Auto show debuts include the new Kia K4, Porsche Macan EV and the Genesis GV60.
GENESIS GV60 Concept Car
An original Volkswagen Beetle from 1949 (first year of import to the States) is on display next to the new ID Buzz from VW.
1949 VW Beetle, the first year it was imported to the U.S.
As with last year there is a focus on Electric Vehicles and there is indoor test track on the lower level where you can ride as a passenger in cars from several brands, The New York Power Authority and Con Edison also have displays with regards to electric vehicle recharging.
There are over 100 Immersive exhibits and experiences at this year’s Auto Show including Camp Jeep (an amazing outdoor off road experience), Ford Bronco Off Road Adventure and Subaru’s National Park themed exhibit coupled with a pet adoption, auto racing simulators and more.
Cynthia Nixon, the Tony , Grammy and Primetime Emmy award winning actress in now on stage in “ The Seven Year Disappear”. The actress who is known for her iconic roles in “Sex and the City”, “Just Like That”, various plays both on and off Broadway and recently starred in the HBO hit series “The Gilded Age”. The versatile actress now brings her enormous talent to The New Group production of this intriguing drama.
Nixon stars along with Taylor Trensch (Broadway-Camelot) and they are the only two actors in the play. Nixon however has the task of portraying seven different characters . She delivers a powerful and convincing performance. Trensch plays Naphtali, the son of a famous performance artist. Suddenly and without warning his mother disappears without a trace. Naphtali sees his mother everywhere in the faces of co workers, friends and strangers. Finally and without notice, his mother returns. Naturally he has many concerns and questions but few answers.
Finally and without notice, his mother returns. Naturally he has many concerns and questions but few answers.
Nixon weaves in an out of the many characters she performs and the audience is riveted to the performance of the two actors. The stage is simple and is more akin to a performance art installation than a stage play. It is both engaging and intriguing. The performances of both actors are nothing short of brilliant.
The play has no intermission. This is a must see production that will have you discussing among yourselves the depth and meaning of the play. Written by Jordan Seavey, directed by Scott Elliot and is onstage now through March 30th 2024.
Fleetwood Mask the only Fleetwood Mac tribute band endorsed by Mick Fleetwood (founding member of Fleetwood Mac) is coming to the Palace Theater on March 2nd 2024. Tickets are on sale now.
This is an incredible music experience that takes you through the history and the extensive catalog of music from one of the world’s most famous and well loved bands. The audience will enjoy the band’s many hits as well as deep cuts from their discography.
Mick Fleetwood himself tells us to “get excited” for a performance that accurately captures the magic of the band. Each Fleetwood Mask set includes historically accurate stage equipment and instruments (including original pieces used on tour by Fleetwood Mac), period correct wardrobe, and set lists that replicate the various tours throughout the band’s long history.
Fleetwood Mask members include embers include Claudette Rodrigues (Stevie Nicks), Barbara Martin (Christine McVie), Mark Blasquez (Lindsey Buckingham), Paul Jones (John McVie), Don Oberempt (Mick Fleetwood).
Tickets start at only $29 which is amazing considering the quality of this must see performance.
The Palace Theater is a local treasure and a fantastic venue for live music. The Theatre, a 1,636-seat venue built as a vaudeville house and opened in 1927.. It was restored and re-opened in 1983 for live theatre, opera, dance, comedy and concerts, plus art exhibitions in the Gallery. We have been to live performances here and can attest to the fantastic acoustics and the clarity of the sound during live performances.
There is an amazing slate of live performances coming up at the Palace. Lee Brice (country music star), Irish Comedy tour, Matt Fraser (psychic medium), and country music group Lady A (platinum hit –Need You Now). Check the Palace website for updates and more information.
Follow the lit path through a fantasy land of lights and sound.
The fantastic Festival of Lights has returned to Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard in North Salem. This is a great way to experience the holiday season.
The orchard is has been transformed into a wonderland of lights. You begin at the bottom of the hill and walk through a tunnel of light. The apple trees are wrapped in thousands of lights as your path winds you up hill. There is a special “under the sea” section this year with lighted fish, mermaids, octopus, and a spectacular display of jellyfish that float overhead. Hidden speakers play the sound of running water.
Higher up the hill there are special light displays, farm tractors decorated in lights, and other interactive displays. At the summit you can enjoy the view back down the hill of the lights. Here is a great place to take a break and purchase a drink of cider or hot chocolate.
Harvest Moon states that there is over 500,000 lights in the display this year. The trail is roughly one half mile long from start to finish and you can take your time enjoying the display. The adventure continues as you make your way down hill past a snow globe, shooting star and much more. As you conclude your magical tour, a tunnel of blue lights is the final step. Back at the farm, grab a seat by the bonfire or inside the tent and enjoy some of the food and beverages for sale including giant pretzels, cider donuts, hot chocolate or some Hardscrabble Hard Cider.
The moving and complex drama, Clybourne Park is now on stage at the Music Theatre of Norwalk. This two act drama that is set in 1959 and in 2009 examines the state of race relations and of property ownership in the same neighborhood, fifty years apart. This play is both dramatic and thought provoking and we found ourselves talking about it long after its conclusion.
Act One introduces us to Bev (Susan Haefner) as the typical proper 1950s housewife. Her husband Russ (Frank Mastrone) is also introduced and we see the couple preparing to move from their home in a working class neighborhood of Chicago. The neighborhood is all white. There is sadness about their move as we find that their adult son committed suicide in the house and the couple feel the need to start over elsewhere.
The action begins to heat up when Karl (Nick Roesler) a neighbor and member of the community association enters the scene. He attempts to unravel the sale of the house as he has learned a black family is the purchaser of the house and he and others fear the change to their neighborhood and destroy their property values. The conversation escalates into an argument as Karl proposes legal strategies to void the sale. Looking on the whole time are the black maid Francine (Rae Janeil) and her husband Albert (SJ Hannah) who act with remain out of the fray with an air of dignity but obviously repulsed by Karl and his overt racism. Jim is not persuaded to call off the sale and asks where were the neighbors and their concern when their son died?
Albert offers to help carry a large foot locker belonging to the son down the stairs which Jim plans to bury in the yard. The foot locker crashes down to the bottom of the staircase and the heavy thud had the audience riveted and questioning what was inside.
Act Two brings us into the year 2009 where we see the house in a state of disrepair. The neighborhood for decades has been predominately occupied by African Americans who now witness white professionals buying up the homes due to the close proximity to downtown. The entire scene involves a discussion between the architect, (Matt Mancuso) existing homeowners and the new owners Steve (Nick Roesler) and Lindsey (Allie Siebold) . The script is now flipped. The new homeowners want to tear down the existing house and build a larger modern house which is out of scale and style with the neighborhood. The African American homeowners are resistant to the changes and the gentrification of the neighborhood. The race relations of 1959 has totally been turned upside down, as the white professionals find themselves unwanted. It reveals how little progress has been made in 50 years. A little humor is sprinkled in this argument filled second act as the plumber comes in and out and finally reveals a foot locker he has discovered buried in the yard. Will opening the box open or heal the wounds of Clybourne Park? Another fine production from MTC.
Written by Bruce Norris, and directed by Pamela Hill. Kevin Connors is the Executive Artistic Director.Sound Design by Jon Damast, lighting Design by RJ Romeo, Costume Design by Diane Vanderkroef.Scenic Design by Martin Scott Marchitto ,Fight & Intimacy Choreography by Dan O’Driscoll Cultural Consulting by Dr. Sharon J. White and Stage Managed by Abbey Murray.
Join actor and musician Vanessa Williams as The Jacob Burns Film Center celebrates her career with her latest movie Tripped Up. Vanessa will be joined by Tripped Up director, Shruti Ganguly. They will host a Q & A following the screening of the film
Aspiring chef Lizzy sets off with her three best friends in tow to compete in the prestigious Saucy Food Festival. What begins as a calculated career move quickly turns into a madcap misadventure full of food, fun and female bonding. These young women learn that struggle can be the secret ingredient to success.
Followed by a reception in the Jane Peck Gallery. The wines for this evening are generously donated by Best Wine Purveyors.
This is just another of the great events and film screenings at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville.
For tickets and additional information including the film trailer visit:
A fun culinary event that we have always enjoyed in the past is back. The Taste of Fairfield will be held on Sunday, October 8th, from 12pm – 4pm at Delamar Southport, 275 Old Post Road, Southport, CT. Over 35+ restaurants, wineries, craft brewers and others vendors will take part to serve their signature cuisine and curated cocktails and beverages to foodies and attendees in the area in the back lot of the Delamar Southport / Artisan Restaurant! This is a fabulous and fun event and the weather looks great.
There will also be live music, a few local vendors, raffles and much more! There will be local items raffled off during the event, and 100% of the money raised for the raffles will be donated to the Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Tickets in advance for general admission is $85, which includes food, drink, and entertainment all afternoon. Day-of general admission is $100. Please note: This is a 21+ event. Attendees under the age of 21 are not permitted at this event.
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with well know tunes that weaves together many of the hit songs of the 1960s rock group, The Four Seasons. Unlike other jukebox musicals that use familiar hit songs to tell a fictional tale (Mamma Mia and others), Jersey boys tells the actual story of the band. Starting from its early days in New Jersey as the “Four Lovers” to the addition of a young teenager named Frankie Valli, to the addition of a young song writer Bob Gaudio who would go on to pen their many hit songs. It was interesting to learn that a young Joe Pesci (the actor) introduced Gaudio to the band. The show ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017 with over 4000 performances.
The play covers the ups and downs of the band, their personnel changes, money and management issues and their endless road tours. Even with problems with the record label and getting their songs played on Top 40 radio, the Four Seasons would succeed in the turbulent and constantly changing era of f1960s rock music.
The format of the play is both story telling and live performances that weave together the saga of the Four Seasons from their humble Jersey roots, to their rise and eventual break up. The story is both funny and sad, but it is the music and harmonies that lift the audience up during the performance.
The Music Theatre of Connecticut has produced yet another highly professional theatrical experience. The small intimate theater in which the audience sits three sides surrouning the actors creates the feeling that you are in the performance itself. It’s quite extrodinary. In a musical such as Jersey Boys, sound is vital to success and the sound crew delivers concert quality sound as the harmonies that are so much of the Four Seasons sound are delivered with clarity. Over 30 songs are part of the musical which the cast delivers to the delight of the audience.
A great cast of 14 actors rotate on and off the stage. Michael Fasano reprises his role as Frankie Valli which he played on the national tour. He really pulls off the unique vocal range of Frankie Valli. Nathan Cockroft (Tommy DeVito), Sean McGee (Bob Gaudio), and Steven Petrovich (Nick Massi) round out the rest of the band and deliver solid acting and vocal performances. The vocal harmonies were impressive.
The rest of the cast has plays numerous roles, including fans, wives, mobsters, record executives and even Joe Pesci. Seamless costume changes allow these actors to assume several different roles during the show. The cast of Brianna Bauch, Emily Solo, Skye Gillespie, (all seen above) John Treacy Egan, Michael Luongo, David L. Murray Jr., Robert Peterpaul, and Jeff Raab does a fantastic job of playing so many roles critical to the telling of the story.
Kevin Conners delivers yet again another wonderful directing achievement. This is a Broadway quality production right next door in an intimate and professional venue.
An exciting car enthusiast event is coming to our area 9/22 to 9/24/2023 in New Milford Connecticut. The Connecticut Colonial Concours d’ Elegance is an high-end auto event which includes an exciting lineup of vintage cars. This promises to be a fun weekend for attendees.
The site of the Concours is beautiful Candlelight Farms in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, this weekend-long celebration offers something for everyone.
Each day of the Colonial Concours d’ Elegance will not only feature fabulous automobiles, but fantastic food and entertainment, and a memorable experience..
This year the Councours is adding a series of new competitions, including the 30 under 30, and Hot Rod Challenge, Muscle Machines on Saturday, Vintage Military Vehicles, and Vintage Planes! Sounds like a great line up. There will be live entertainment all weekend long, not to mention great food, local artists and vendors, and of course a gathering of fantastic automobiles.
This sounds like a great way to spend a fall weekend. For more information and tickets, please visit the link below. See you on the show field, and look for our photos after the concours.
I On The Valley 