nothin New Haven Independent | Cool Events This Weekend, Here & Beyond

Cool Events This Weekend, Here & Beyond

This time of year, it’s all about the Bald Eagles, which are migrating to the Connecticut River from Canada in search of ice-free fishing. Join the Audubon Shop group, take a cruise aboard the Riverquest, or learn all about these magnificent birds from the comfort of the Blackstone Library. As an antidote to the never-ending news cycle, check out the quilt presentation at the Dudley Farm in Guilford. The Farm is a treasure trove of local history.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Activity Day and Open House

CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School will hold an Activity Day and Open House at the school, 28 School St. on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Meet teachers and students, stay for the art, music, and science activities, and enjoy some refreshments. RSVP at [email protected], call 203 – 433-4658, or visit www.CTExperiential.org.

IInterested in Antique Quilts?

The Dudley Farm Museum, 2351 Durham Road, will present Lorraine German from Mad River Antiques in North Granby for a presentation titled Pieced History at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the lower level of the heated Munger Barn. She will discuss the history of textiles in America and its influence on the development of the American quilt.

Dudley’s antique quilt frame will be set up to display a quilt recently made by the Dudley Farm Quilters, and the recently conserved Potter Crazy Quilt, which has the Blizzard of 1888 as its subject matter, will also be displayed. A small historical display of that weather event will also be featured.

Admission is free, but donations to support the textile collection are appreciated. RSVP to [email protected] or call 203 – 457-0770.

In addition, the Dudley Farm Winter Market takes place the first Saturday of the month: Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Featured will be baked goods, eggs, handmade crafts, jams and jellies, naturally-raised meats, pickles, winter vegetables and more. 

The Road Ahead: Stories of the Forever War 

Matt Gallagher, co-editor of Fire and Forget and author of Young Blood joins Branford native Adrian Bonenberger, author of The Afghan Post for a panel discussion about the new veteran fiction anthology The Road Ahead at Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Writers and editors Brian Castner and Teresa Fazio complete the panel.

The Road Ahead is a diverse collection of fictional works written by 24 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflecting the evolving nature of what has become American’s Forever War.”

To RSVP, visit www.blackstonelibrary.org or call 203 – 488-1441, ext. 318.

Sunday, Jan. 22

The Argyle Sax Quartet 

The Argyle Sax Quartet will perform at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 2 to 3 p.m.

The ensemble performs in a wide range of musical genres, entertaining audiences with selections in classical styles, jazz styles, pop and novelty themes. Concertgoers can expect to enjoy works by Rimsky Korsakov, Glen Miller, The Beatles and more; an eclectic mix with something for everyone.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Shoreline Chamber Annual Awards Dinner 

The Shoreline Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner will take place Thursday, Jan. 26, at 5:30 p.m., at Stony Creek Brewery, 5 Indian Beck Ave. 

Brewing Up Business in 2017 will be the theme of the dinner. Award winners are: Branford Art Center ¬ Small business of the Year; Liza Janssen Petra – Community Service Award; Advanced Office Systems, Rich Sgueglia – Chamber Partner of the Year; Jason Iglesias of the Marketplace – Chamber Volunteer of the Year; Floor Craze, Jose Cuapio – New Business of the Year; Sally Esborn of Mosaic Printing – Val Karlawish Award ; Chris Velardi and Keith Bishop of Bishops Orchards – Legacy Award Winners.

Tickets are $50 for members, $60 for non-members. Call the Chamber office at 203 – 488-5500 or email [email protected] for more information or to purchase tickets.

Saturday, Feb. 4

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28th Annual Eagle Watches on the Connecticut River

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Audubon Shop owner Jerry Connolly will again lead the popular land-based excursions to view Bald Eagles along the Connecticut River, beginning Saturday, Feb. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additional trips are planned for Feb. 11, 18, 25, and March 4. 

Bald Eagles make their way down the Connecticut River from Canada every winter in search of ice-free fishing. Participants will observe these majestic birds from a variety of locations along the river. Ticket prices are $25, which includes a soup & sandwich luncheon at Otter Cove Restaurant in Old Saybrook following the field trip.

Reservations must be made in advance by calling 203 – 245-9056. Carpool from the shop at 907 Boston Post Road in Madison at 7:45 a.m. or meet at first stop (Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam) at 8:30 a.m.

Winter Wildlife, Bald Eagles

If you prefer to view Bald Eagles from the river, Connecticut River Expeditions of Haddam will offer cruises to view winter wildlife and nesting Bald Eagles from Feb. 4 through March 19.

Departures on Fridays are at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., leaving from the Connecticut River Museum dock in Essex.

RiverQuest has a heated cabin, but participates are urged to dress in warm layers since the best views will be from the open decks. Bring cameras and binoculars, which will also be available on board. Cost is $40 per person.

For more information visit www.ctriverquest.com or www.ctrivermuseum.org

Sunday, Feb. 5

The Origins of Modern Terror in Belle Epoque Paris

The Branford Forum will host Yale University Professor of History John Merriman on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m., at the Blackstone Library auditorium, 758 Main St.

Prof. Merriman will examine the experience of ordinary people during the Belle Epoque (late 1800s Western Europe). The political upheavals and transitions of the period will be viewed neither in terms of historical inevitability as a procession of great men but rather through the lens of the complex interrelations between demographic change, political revolution, and cultural development.

In 2000, Prof. Merriman was the recipient of the Yale University Byrnes-Sewall Teaching Prize.

A Q&A and discussion will follow his talk. For more information, email [email protected] or call (203) 772-5494

Wednesday, Feb. 8

In the Eye of an Eagle: Connecticut’s Bald Eagles

Raptor researcher Larry Fischer will present In the Eye of an Eagle – Connecticut’s Bald Eagles at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. The talk is sponsored by the Menunkatuck Audubon Society.

He will recount the eagles’ remarkable comeback with photos and anecdotes, starting from the earliest winter residents to Connecticut’s first nest, to the present population of nesting eagles. Fischer scales some of Connecticut’s tallest trees to come face to face with eaglets in their Connecticut aeries.

This program will be followed by an Eagle Watch field trip at the Shepaug Dam on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Fischer is a Federally Licensed master raptor bander and has been banding birds since 1980. As a Master Bander, he serves as a volunteer cooperator with the US Geological Survey, US Department of the Interior. He also holds a Connecticut DEEP bird banding permit.

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