Through Sept. 10 – Deaf Artists in Early America: The Worlds of John Brewster, Jr. This exhibit is presented in conjunction with the American School for the Deaf, where Brewster was enrolled in 1817. Forty portraits illustrate the artist’s long career as a prominent, early painter. Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme; 860.434.5542; www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org.

Through Oct. 1 – Twain, Tiffany and Other Treasures: Highlights from the Collection. Take a tour through the Mark Twain House & Museum as you check out the showcase of period decorative and fine arts items. These pieces were crafted by important artisans, including Louis Comfort Tiffany, who were favorites of the Clemens family. The Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford; 860.247.0998; www.marktwainhouse.org.

Through Oct. 16 – Photography and Human Experience: Images of New England. An exhibit exploring the role photography played in documenting news, science and technology, the family and more from the 1840s through the 1920s. Featured photographers include Emma Lewis Coleman, Baldwin Coolidge, Nathaniel L. Stebbins and Mary H. Northend. Roseland Cottage, Woodstock; 860.928.4074; www.historicnewengland.org.

SEPTEMBER
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Sept. 1 - 4 – Woodstock Fair. This annual event is one of the largest fairs in Connecticut. Visitors will enjoy food, games, rides, animals and shows over the course of the four day celebration. Woodstock Fair Grounds, Woodstock; 860.928.3246; www.woodstockfair.com.

Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 – First Saturday. The galleries and shops of Seymour’s Arts & Antiques Association will demonstrate the best they have to offer. Visitors can take in visual arts within the galleries, eat well in the restaurants and take in some shopping without having to travel far. Bank and Main Streets, Seymour; 203.881.2526; www.dosaa.org.

Sept. 2 - 3 – Farmington Antiques Weekend. This Labor Day weekend show features a wide variety of merchandise vendors to suit all your needs. Approximately 600 exhibitors from the United States and London gather to sell garden ornaments, architectural items, furniture, paintings, linens and much more. Farmington Polo Grounds, Farmington; 860.677.7862;
www.farmingtonantiques.com.

Sept. 5 – Art in Context. Britannia & Muscovy: English Silver at the Court of the Tsars, presented by Cassandra Albinson, Assistant Curator of Paintings and Sculpture. Yale Center for British Art, New Haven; 203.432.2800; www.yale.edu/academics/museums.html.

Sept. 6 - 20 – September Estates Auction. Come bid on wonderful art and antiques in the estates auction. Litchfield County Auctions, Litchfield; 860.567.4661;
www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com.

Sept. 7 – Fire Department Carnival. Come check out the fire trucks at the Ellington Fire Department Carnival Brookside Park, Ellington; 860.870.3100; www.ellington-ct.gov.

Sept. 7 – First Thursday: Garden Gathering. Need a way to unwind after a busy day? Head over to the Butler-McCook House for some wine, music and great conversation. The first floor of the house will be open for tours. Butler-McCook House, Hartford; 860.522.1806; www.hartnet.org/als.

Sept. 7 - 10 – Hebron Harvest Fair. One of Connecticut’s largest fairs, there are animal displays, food, country music, carnival midway and something to do for the entire family. Hebron Lions Club proudly distributes proceeds from the fair to nonprofit organizations, scholarships funds and many other projects. Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, Hebron; 860.228.0892; www.hebronharvestfair.org.

Sept. 8 - 10 – A Taste of Mystic. Live music and gourmet specialties from Mystic restaurants will be served up for this event, featuring a wide variety of foods from quesadillas to chowders and decadent desserts. Cottrell Street, Mystic; 860.572.9578; www.mysticchamber.org.

Sept. 8 - 10 – 29th Annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival. Celebrate the season with a luscious taste of eighteen different booths serving up choice oysters. The event also offers tours, children’s activities, arts and crafts, live entertainment and tall ships. Former American Idol
contestant Bo Bice will be the featured performer on Friday. Veterans’ Memorial Park, Norwalk; 203.855.1017; www.seaport.org.

Sept. 9 – Quilts Around the Town 2006. A quilt show that doubles as a fundraiser for the Clamshell Quilt Guild, a group that donates to many charities. The show will feature more than 400 quilts created by local artists, vendors of craft materials, lectures, auctions and more. The Williams School on the Connecticut College Campus, New London; 860.447.1838 or 860.739.9474.

Sept. 9 - 10 – Explore Suffield’s Historic Main Street. Enjoy this annual celebration on the Green and take a tour of the Phelps-Hatheway House. There will be activities for the kids and walking tours of the 18th and 19th century buildings located on the historic street. Phelps-Hatheway House, Suffield; 860.668.0055; www.hartnet.org/als

Sept. 9 - 10 – Suffield on the Green/36th Annual Craft Fair. While you’re down on the Green checking out the historical side of Suffield, head over to the craft fair and purchase some unique wares. There will be booths from local organizations, contests and entertainment. Bring the whole family for a great time. Main Street and Hatheway House, Suffield; 860.668.4221; www.friendsofsuffield.org.

Sept. 11 – Conversation and Reading: Liev Schreiber and James Bundy. Award-winning actor Liev Schreiber (MFA, Yale School of Drama, 1992) and James Bundy, Dean of the Yale School of Drama and Artistic Director of the Yale Repertory Theatre. Yale University Theater, New Haven; 203.432.1234; www.yale.edu/academics/museums.html.

Sept. 12 - 17 – Mamma Mia! The Broadway show set to the tunes of ABBA is a story about life, friendship and love. The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford; 860.987.5700; www.bushnell.org.

Sept. 14 - 17 – Four Town Fair. Demonstrations, contests, music, bingo, a pumpkin patch and more. will be available at the 2006 Four Town Fair. Egypt Road Fairgrounds, Somers; 860.749.6527; www.fourtownfair.com.

Sept. 15 - 30 – Shakespeare in Hollywood. A comedy about what happens to legendary Shakespeare characters when they get transported to 1930s Hollywood. Repertory Theater of New Britain, New Britain; 860.223.3147; www.nbrep.org.

Sept. 16 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on Wake Forest. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.

Sept. 16 - 17 – Home Living Connecticut Home Show. Produced in conjunction with the Home Builders Association, this first of a kind home and lifestyle show will present the best in innovative products, culinary, travel and leisure, arts, entertainment and all things for the home. Celebrity appearances, workshops, on-site consultations with interior designers, tastings and much more to inspire you to enrich your lifestyle, brought to you by Connecticut’s premier lifestyle and home magazine, Home Living Connecticut! Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford; 860.728.5700; www.homelivingct.com.

Sept. 19 - 24 – Twelve Angry Men. Take a stand and choose which side you’re on in this hard-hitting courtroom drama popularized by the film version of the 1950s. The story follows twelve jurors as they deliberate on the case of a young man, accused of murdering his own father. Shubert Theater, New Haven; 203.562-5666; www.capa.com/newhaven.

Sept. 20 – Art and Music in Elizabethan England. British tenor James Gilchrist and litenist Elizabeth Kenney perform Elizabethan lute songs. Yale University Theater, New Haven; 203.432.1234; www.yale.edu/academics/museums.html.

Sept. 20 - March 4 – Sam Colt: Arms, Art and Invention. This exhibition offers a complete picture of the inventor’s manufacturing and marketing triumphs. It draws upon Colt’s personal collection of arms that was in his office at his death in 1862, now divided between the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Museum of Connecticut History. Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford; 860.728.2670; www.wadsworthateneum.org.

Sept. 21 – Wine & Roses. An Annual Wine Tasting Benefit for the Tommy Toy Fund that features entertainment and hors d’oeuvres at the Marina on the wharf. American Wharf, Norwich; 860.887.9211; www.norwichct.org.

Sept. 21 – Third Thursday Street Festival. Culturally diverse music and food interspersed with children’s events and performances by dance troupes, poets and puppeteers. Held rain or shine on the third Thursday of the month through October. www.willimanticstreetfest.com.

Sept. 21 – Oct. 21 – The Human Figure. Milford Fine Arts Council Firehouse Art Gallery presents a juried exhibit which explores various forms of the human figure in a plethora of media: oils, acrylic, pastels, photography, pen and ink, and sculpture. The opening reception is September 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is cordially invited. MFAC Firehouse Art Gallery, Milford; 203.878.6647; www.milfordarts.org.

Sept. 22 - 24 – Durham Fair. A family event complete with music, crafts, food, rides and more. Musical guests include SHeDAISY, George Jones and Phil Vassar. Durham Fairgrounds, Durham; 860.349.9495; www.durhamfair.com.

Sept. 22, 24 – Children’s Cooking Class. Kids seven and up can come learn about shapes and kinds of pasta and sauces, under the guidance of Chef Maria Gilmore. Members $35, nonmembers $40 per class. Cook’s Kitchen, Madison; 203.245.4426, 866.533.2554; www.cooks-kitchen.com.

Sept. 23 – Farmer’s Market. Come check out the wonderful foods grown by local farmers. Arbor Park, Ellington; 860.870.3100; www.ellington-ct.gov.

Sept. 23 – Connecticut Tour des Farms. A bicycle tour of Connecticut farms through the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret and Brooklyn. The event offers a 15-mile and 40-mile loop ride and will be held rain or shine. Fairview Farms, Woodstock; 860.923.9475; www.tourdesfarms.org.

Sept. 23 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on Indiana. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.

Sept. 25 – Multiple Fascinations: Dutch and Flemish Prints. From Bruegel to Rembrandt, see it all at the Main Gallery. Center for the Arts, Wesleyan University, Middletown; 860.685.2000; www.wesleyan.edu.

Sept. 30 – Somers Historical Society Museum Opening. On display are military uniforms from World War One and Two. Included are a Purple Heart medal and other military items from local residents. Historical Society Building on Battle Street. Somers Common, Somers; 860.749.6437; www.somersnow.com.

Sept. 30 – Terryville Giant Flea Market 2nd Annual Fall Event. A huge flea market where you can hunt out antiques and other previously owned treasures to complete your home décor. Terryville Fairgrounds, Terryville; 860.585.0293.

Sept. 30 – Columbia Farmers’ Market. This market will be held on the town green where visitors will have the chance to purchase some of season’s best produce and other specialty items. Find what you need from soaps to flowers, herbs, crafts and even a baby animal zoo. Columbia Town Green, Columbia; 860.228.0368.

Sept. 30 - Oct. 15 – Carousel. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical set in a Maine coastal village where the characters face challenges of life and love. Thomaston Opera House, Thomaston; 860.283.6250; www.thomastonoperahouse.org.

OCTOBER
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Oct. 1 – Masterpiece Tour. A guided tour through the museum’s masterpiece collection. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven; 203.432.0600; www.artgallery.yale.edu.

Oct. 4 – Harvest Soup Cooking Class. Use the bounty of the season to create healthy, wonderful soups for fall and winter, under the guidance of Chef Maria Gilmore. Members $70, nonmembers $75 per class. Cook’s Kitchen, Madison; 203.245.4426, 866.533.2554; www.cooks-kitchen.com.

Oct. 5 – Art and Music in Britain. This exhibition will offer a tightly focused historical exploration of this theme by examining four moments in British history when the conjunction of art and music took on a distinctive character. Yale Center for British Art, New Haven; 203.432.2800; www.yale.edu/academics/museums.html.

Oct. 6 – Margaret Cho. Come see comedian Margaret Cho on the Main Stage and laugh all the way home. Warner Theatre, Torrington; 860.489.7180; www.warnertheatre.org.

Oct. 6 - 8 – Hartford International Jazz Festival. The City of Hartford invites the world to come and experience the Hartford International Jazz Festival Columbus Day Weekend. You will have a wealth of possibilities to experience some of the most creative jazz musicians in the world. The many choices provided on and off the Main Stages await the sophisticated jazz aficionado as well as those new to the jazz genre. There will be food and drink available to enjoy with the music in the many restaurants participating as Encore Stage. Aetna Theater, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford; 860.278.2670; www.hijf.com.

Oct. 6 - 8 – Portland Fair. Portland’s 2006 agricultural fair boasts concessions, crafters, entertainment and a talent show. To check out everything this event has to offer, bring the whole family over and see for yourself. Fairgrounds, Portland; 860.342.0188; www.portlandfair.com.

Oct. 6 - 8, 13 - 15 – Frankenstein. The classic Mary Shelley story made famous in the movies by the legendary Boris Karlof, comes alive just in time for Halloween. Warner Theatre, Torrington; 860.489.7180; www.warnertheatre.org.

Oct. 6 - 21 – Guys and Dolls. Drop by the theater and check out this timeless musical of the gambles of love and gaming. Sing along with the classic hits that made this show famous over the years. The Bradley Playhouse, Putnam; 860.928.7887; www.bradleyplayhouse.org.

Oct. 6 - Dec. 10 – Pirates of Penzance. Musical comedy about pirates on the high seas and a case of mistaken identity. This show is a Tony Award-winner and is appropriate for all ages. Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam; 860.873.8668; www.goodspeed.org.

Oct. 7 – Annual Harvest Fest. A celebration of the grape harvest at Johnathan Edward Winery. There will be food vendors, live music, a grape-stomping contest and, of course, wine. Johnathan Edwards Winery, North Stonington; 860.535.0202; www.jedwardswinery.com.

Oct. 7 - 9 – Chowderfest. An annual event featuring the New England soup of choice, chowder. Aside from great food and drinks, visitors can enjoy live music, participate in activities and climb aboard the steamboat Sabino. Mystic Seaport, Mystic; 888.973.2767; www.mysticseaport.org.

Oct. 9 - 29 – 9th Annual City-Wide Open Studios. A truly magnificent event where over 500 artists open up their studios to the public. Come down and check out the various locations and art on display in one of the largest events of this kind on the East Coast. Multiple Locations, Hartford; 203.772.2709; www.artspacenh.org.

Oct. 14 – Fall Harvest Festival. Take part in a local family harvest celebration at the peak of autumn. Enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden as you explore the outdoors. Bellamy-Ferriday House, Bethlehem; 203.266.7596; www.hartnet.org/als.

Oct. 14 – 24th Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival. This juried fine arts and craft show features 175 artisans and their creations. Wares include jewelry, woodworking, pottery, clothing and metalwork. There will be live music, a food court and tours of the museum. Roseland Cottage, Woodstock; 860.928.4074; www.historicnewengland.org.

Oct. 14 – United Technologies Greater Hartford Marathon. The race course combines the vibrancy of downtown Hartford with brilliant autumn foliage, quaint country roads, the majestic Connecticut River and lively neighborhoods of the city’s west end. Run the race and you will view 19th-century homes, pumpkin farms, West End estates and beautiful gardens. Runners are supported all along the course by entertainment and crowds of cheering spectators, and a huge post-race party with the best food in North America. Begins and ends at the Arch in Bushnell Park, Hartford; 860.652.8866; www.hartfordmarathon.com.

Oct. 14 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on Army. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.

Oct. 14 - 15 – Quilters Showcase V. Whether you love to use quilts or make them, this event has a lot to offer. The Farmington Valley Quilters will have over 200 quilts on display with eleven shops, auctions, a raffle and more. Take part in the classes offered by Paula Nadelstern or the lecture by Robert Shaw. The Hartford, Weatogue; 860.655.3073; www.fvqi.com.

Oct. 19 – Third Thursday Street Festival. Culturally diverse music and food interspersed with children’s events and performances by dance troupes, poets and puppeteers. Held rain or shine on the third Thursday of the month through October. www.willimanticstreetfest.com.

Oct. 20 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on West Virginia. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.

Oct. 21 – Delbert McClinton. Destination Productions presents Texas music legend, Delbert McClinton, live in concert, with special guest, Slaid Cleaves. A three time Grammy Award winner, McClinton delivers good-natured Americana with gutsy enthusiasm and raw energy. Warner Theatre, Torrington; 860.489.7180; www.warnertheatre.org.

Oct. 21 – River Fire. Fires are lit at dusk and burn for two hours as an eclectic mix of music, from Gregorian chant to Andrea Boccelli, is played by WINY-1350 AM and simulcast over speakers; bring a picnic or purchase food from concessions. Putnam Parks & Rec, Putnam; 860.963.6811; www.thelastgreenvalley.com.

Oct. 21 – Sushi Cooking Class. Chef Teddy Endo, formerly of the CT Culinary Institue, is back for one of the most popular classes! Learn to make sushi from a master. Members $70, nonmembers $75. Cook’s Kitchen, Madison; 203.245.4426, 866.533.2554; www.cooks-kitchen.com.

Oct. 26 - 29 – Skate America 2006. Skate America is the premier international figure skating competition of U.S. Figure Skating. This world-class event features four days of competition in ladies and men’s singles, pairs and ice dancing, as well as an exhibition of champions. The competition will attract more than 60 world-class figure skating athletes from approximately 12 nations, many whom competed at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Hartford Civic Center, Hartford; 860.528.4588; www.skateamerica2006.org.

Oct. 28 – The Natural History of Witches & Wizards. Come see live
animals considered by some to be spooky, including owls, spiders and snakes. And don’t miss some of the strangest-looking specimens from the collection rooms that rarely see the light of day. Mask-making and other fun activities for kids, and try on the Peabody’s talking hat – if you dare! Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven; 203.432.5050; www.peabody.yale.edu.

Oct. 29 – Hearth Cooking Programs: Foods of Ireland. Learn to cook with tools and recipes inspired by Irish immigrants. Participants will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with new cooking tools and to taste their culinary masterpieces. Nathan Hale Homestead, Coventry; 860.742.6917; www.hartnet.org/als.

NOVEMBER
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Nov. 4 – Bookshelf Treasures Workshop. Interested in rare books? This workshop was designed to teach you how to collect, maintain and appraise rare or used books. Bellamy-Ferriday House, Bethlehem; 203.266.7596; www.hartnet.org/als.

Nov. 9 – Shen Wei Dance Arts. A performance that combines richly textured fabrics, colors, lighting, visual arts, music, dance and theatre to keep audiences wanting more. The Chinese-born choreographer, Shen Wei, brings a unique artistic vision to this show, which has changed modern dance as we know it. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, Storrs; 860.486.4226; www.jorgensen.ct-arts.com.

Nov. 9 - Dec. 3 – Meet John Doe. A new musical about a Depression-era reporter who writes a false story in an attempt to revive a dying newspaper. In order to keep the farce going, she hires a downtrodden ballplayer to play the part. Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam; 860.873.8668; www.goodspeed.org.

Nov. 11 – Romeo and Juliet. The Aquila Theatre of London presents Shakespeare’s tragedy of star-crossed lovers kept apart by family feuds. The company mixes British and American actors in this bold and stylish production. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, Storrs; 860.486.4226; www.jorgensen.ct-arts.com.

Nov. 11 – A Taste of Chocolate. Learn about tasting and making delicious chocolates in the beautiful setting of Sundial Gardens. Sundial Gardens, Higganum; 860.345.4290; www.sundialgardens.com.

Nov. 11 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on Pittsburgh. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.

Nov. 14 - Feb. 3 – Transcending Type. This architectural exhibition features six American architects in the vanguard of contemporary design. Each solution explores new forms and uses for iconic modern building types, providing a fresh perspective on structures that have been stereotyped and replicated globally. Yale School of Architecture Gallery, New Haven; 203.432.1234; www.architecture.yale.edu/gallery.

Nov. 15 - 29 – 20th Century Design & Collectibles Auction. Come bid on wonderful art, furniture and antiques in the Design & Collectibles Auction. Litchfield County Auctions, Litchfield; 860.567.4661; www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com.

Nov. 18 – Thanksgiving with the Hempsteads. Spend the day learning about how to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal just like the one enjoyed by the pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Cooks will demonstrate the various techniques used in the 17th and 18th centuries, including roasting in a reflector oven, baking in a beehive oven and making pottages. Hempstead Houses, New London; 860.443.7849; www.hartnet.org/als.

Nov. 25 – UConn Football. Come watch the Huskies at home as they take on Cincinnati. Rentschler Field, East Hartford; 877.AT.UCONN; www.uconn.edu.