New Haven Celebrates Contemporary Art

City-Wide Open Studios is a series of weekends in late September (24 to 26) and early October in New Haven, Connecticut, when the artists welcome the public into their studios to witness the creative process. Each weekend the event focuses on a different part of the city and includes an eclectic assortment of events and demonstrations.

With over 250 participating artists, the entire spectrum of the arts is well-represented. There are painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, potters and mixed media artists; there are also bike tours and a parade.

One of the newest exhibits in the 2010 CWOS event is Project Storefront. With available space in the downtown area, artists are displaying their creations in vacant storefronts. This is a new layer in the integration of art and creativity into the day-to-day lives of New Haven residents and visitors.

An added bonus this year is the ability to experience Square with four circles by Felice Varini. Commissioned by Site Projects, Inc., this public art piece is a 110 ft tall, multi-dimensional painting installed in Temple Plaza. This is Varini's first outdoor public artwork in the United States. From a precise location, one does literally see the square with four circles contained in it. But as the viewer moves through the piece, he sees the piece from a unique perspective. The installation will be in place until June 2011.

For more information about top events in Connecticut take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Connecticut.

If you ever wanted to see the artistic side of New Haven, City-Wide Open Studios is an event not to be missed. A list of participating artists, map and calendar of events is available on www.cwos.org.

Photo credit: Derek Dudek/www.visitNewHaven.com

The WoodenBoat Show Returns to Mystic Seaport

The 19th Annual WoodenBoat Show, owned and produced by WoodenBoat magazine, will once again be held at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT. Show dates are June 25 to 27.

Wooden boat owners and enthusiasts alike will revel in the opportunity of viewing and boarding over one hundred traditional and classic wooden boats of every type amidst the rich historical backdrop of the extensive Mystic Seaport campus.

Large and small; old and new; power, sail, oar and paddle – there’s something to capture the passion of all who love wooden boats. Find everything you need to outfit your boat, and learn new skills at demonstrations and workshops. Exhibits include maritime art, antiques, tools, books, nautical gear, and innovative items to increase the pleasure of owning a wooden boat.

Family Boatbuilding will be returning to the WoodenBoat Show in 2010. It was started in 1998 as a way to bring new people into boatbuilding, and boating. This year five designers and builders will be offering kits and instruction for families to build and launch their boats during the three-day show.
Mystic Seaport – the Museum of America and the Sea – is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Visitors explore American maritime history firsthand as they climb aboard historic tall ships, stroll through a re-created 10th century coastal village or watch a working preservation shipyard in action. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is open every day except December 24th and 25th.

For more information about top events in Connecticut, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Connecticut.

To purchase a Family Boatbuilding kit, and participate in Family Boatbuilding visit the WoodenBoat Show.

SUN WINEFEST BRINGS THE WORLD'S FINEST WINE AND FOOD TO CONNECTICUT IN 2010

The weekend's main event is the Grand Tasting, which will be held in the Convention Center from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday, January 30th and Sunday, January 31st. Sample more than 1,000 fine wines provided by international wineries and specialty beers from breweries and beer companies from around the world. Exhibitors showcasing related services such as wine storage, culinary accessories and specialty foods will also be featured. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear commentary from the winemakers and experts, and enjoy delicacies from some of the region's finest restaurants by purchasing tasting portions of signature dishes at a nominal rate.

Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $70.00 for a one-day pass and $110.00 for a weekend pass. They go on sale at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and through Ticketmaster Monday, September 14th. Ticketmaster customers may purchase online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 800.745.3000, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

SUN WINEFEST attendees will also have the opportunity to add to their experience by attending a series of interesting and educational seminars on a variety of topics. Tickets for seminars will be offered at an additional cost and are available at sunwinefest.com.

Mohegan Sun's Executive Chef, Michael Luboff, is pleased to host Mohegan Sun's own celebrity restaurateurs, Bobby Flay, Todd English and Jasper White who will be joined by an impressive lineup of culinary personalities. Celebrity chefs will be featured in cooking demonstrations all weekend on the Main Stage located in the Grand Tasting along with other entertaining presentations.

To further complement the SUN WINEFEST experience, Saturday night will feature a fundraiser to benefit The Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer. The evening features a Celebrity Chef Dine Around, giving guests the opportunity to be served delectable dishes prepared by world-famous chefs, television celebrities and cookbook authors. Each dish will be paired with extraordinary wines and many talented winemakers will be on-hand. The evening culminates with an elaborate dessert display presented by Mohegan Sun's Executive Pastry Chef Lynn Mansel. Tickets for the event are $175.00, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer, a non-profit-IRS 501(C)(3) corporation chartered by the State of Connecticut whose mission is to provide economic assistance and compassionate aid to Connecticut cancer patients and their families and raise funds for cancer research. Because CSF is one of only a handful of organizations in Connecticut that provides financial assistance directly to cancer patients and their families, they are inundated with more applications for assistance than they can fulfill. Their long-term goal is to never have to turn anyone away.

New for 2010 -- Introducing the Elite Cru Tasting in The Cabaret Theatre hosted by Contessa Premium Foods on Saturday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. An exclusive opportunity for wine lovers of all levels to enjoy the "best of the best" from vineyards all over the world. From the experienced to the curious palate, taste some of the world's finest wines. Speak with vintners and discover your new favorite grape. Reserve your space now for this ultimate event. The Elite Cru Tasting will offer select vintages from premium wineries (Silver Oak Napa Valley, Antinori Solaia, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23, Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, to name a few) accompanied by Contessa Premium Shrimp.

Tickets to the Celebrity Chef Dine Around and Elite Cru Tasting are on sale now at www.sunwinefest.com or by calling Life Marketing and Events at 860.953.0444 ext. 144.

For more events in Connecticut visit the http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-connecticut.html