THU SEPT 9 -7 pm- SPEED Match Dating AGES 40+ at Whole Foods West Hartford CT-CLICK HERE SAT SEPT 11 - 10pm - CTMatch.com Singles Splash at Humphrey's in Wethersfield WED SEPT 15 -7 pm- SPEED Match Dating AGES 30-50 at Whole Foods Milford CT-CLICK HERE

Riverfront U.S. Title Series Powerboat Race - FREE EVENT

Over Labor Day weekend, the Connecticut River will once again come alive with the roar of engines and the spray of rooster tails. The premier PRO outboard racing organization in the United States, US Title Series, will conclude their 6 month long season here in East Hartford and Hartford. World record racers from around the country will bring their custom American and European manufactured 2-stroke engines - all dialed in for high performance racing.

The competition will be divided into classes range from 125cc up to 1100cc engines, with speeds reaching 120 miles per hour! There is no thrill more exciting than seeing the blur of boats thundering across the surface of the water into their first turn. With youth competitors, starting at age 11 with their K-PRO Hydro boats, to veteran drivers, the Riverfront US Title Series Power Boat Race promises to offer something for everyone.

www.Riverfront.org

Finian's Rainbow

 (August 11th through September 5th)
$15-$38.
Ivoryton Playhouse
Ivoryton, CT
860-767-7318
Musical about a man and his daughter who travel from Ireland to Missitucky, USA, to plant a crock of gold stolen from a leprechaun.

Listen to the Spotlight on Connecticut interview with Ivoryton Playhouse - CLICK HERE

First Thursday at the Wadsworth Atheneum
September 2nd : 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. $5

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Hartford, CT
860-278-2670
http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org

This month's Art After Hours turns its focus to
fashion, putting a spin on Victorian fashion and
entertainment in celebration of the exhibit "The
Upholstered Woman," currently on view in the
Goodwin Parlor. Sample a free tarot card or palm
reading, rock out to The Glamour Girls, enter a
fashion contest, and sip absinthe. Tim Burton's 2010
adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland," starring Johnny
Depp and Anne Hathaway, is at 8 p.m.

Flutist Ali Ryerson and guitarist Joe Carter
September 2nd : 6:30 p.m.
Donation, $10.
Windsor Art Center
06095
860-688-2528

Ali Ryerson has emerged as one of the most exciting
and versatile flutists on the scene today. She has
performed with such diverse talents as Dr. Billy
Taylor, Kenny Barron, Stephane Grappelli, Frank
Wess, Red Rodney, Laurindo Almeida, Art Farmer,
Maxine Sullivan, Roy Haynes, Julius Baker, and (as
principal flutist with the Monterey Bay Symphony)
with Luciano Pavarotti.
 
Joe Carter is back for his second engagement at the
Windsor Art Center. He has published several text
books, recorded numerous CD's and performed
throughout the world.

"Breaking Legs"
Daily (ends September 25th) $30.
Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
860-829-1248

The worlds of the Mafia and the theatre clash
hilariously when a professorial playwright seeks
funding for his new play from the family of a former
student. The "family" turn out to be minor Mafia
godfathers who are willing to underwrite the play
provided they never have to read it. The fact that the
lusty, unwed daughter of the house falls in love with
the playwright only furthers his involvement with the
Mob.
 
The cast includes Len Fredericks, Melissa Ingrisano,
Michael Eck, Tom Rhoor and Paul Braccioforte.

M.C. Escher: Impossible Reality
Daily (ends November 14th)
New Britain Museum of American Art
860-223-6867

One of the largest, most comprehensive collections of
the work of M.C. Escher (1898-1972) comes to New
Britain via the Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece.
Artist Maurits Cornelius Escher (1898-1972) earned
worldwide acclaim as a printmaker, draftsman, book
illustrator and muralist with his graphic work of
unforgettable visual puzzles and impossible
structures.
 
One hundred and thirty works spanning Escher's
career - the most representative as well as rare
works of the artist - will be on view including pieces
such as Ascending Descending and Drawing Hands.

Open House Tour & Tasting
Every 1st Friday of the month : 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Every 3rd Friday of the month : 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. $10
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Bloomfield, CT
860-242-3111

Thomas Hooker Brewing Co. and Harry's Bishop's
Corner have paired up to raise money to bring a little
holiday cheer to children at the Village for Children
and Families in Hartford.
 
During the Bloomfield brewery's open house, pizza
from Harry's will be sold for $1, a slice to be paired
with all the beer you can drink and a pint glass to
keep. Portions of the evening's money will go to the
Village.
 
The Village is a vibrant, community-based
organization that provides behavioral health care and
social services to over 5,000 children and families in
the Greater Hartford Region each year.

Goshen Fair
Daily (September 4th through September 6th) $7
Goshen Fair Grounds
Goshen, CT
http://www.goshenfair.org

Shanghai String Quartet
September 4th : 6:30 p.m.
$30 door; $27 advance and $17 students; children 5
- 18 are free.
Music Mountain, Gordon Hall
860-824-7126
http://www.musicmountain.org

The Music Mountain premiere of Polish composer
Krzysztof Penderecki's newest work, String Quartet
no. 3 (Leaves from an Unwritten Diary), that
Penderecki wrote specifically for the Quartet to
commemorate their 25th anniversary.

Farmington Antiques Weekend
September 5th : 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
September 6th : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: $10 on Sat and $7 on Sun. Sat
admission is good for both days.
Farmington Polo Grounds
Farmington, CT

Farmington Antiques Weekend is held on the beautiful
Farmington Polo Grounds on the second weekend of
June and again on Labor Day weekend.
Approximately two hundred quality dealers from
across the United States and Europe will exhibit
outdoors under tents in booths brimming with unique
and wonderful merchandise.
Looking for garden ornaments, architectural items,
fine or rustic furniture, oil paintings, silver, jewelry,
nautical items or fun vintage table linens? Chances
are you'll find it at Farmington.
 
Several food concessions will be located around the
field. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and lunch is served
throughout the afternoon.

U.S. Coast Guard Band
September 5th : 3 p.m.
Free.
Fort Trumbull State Park
New London, CT
860-701-6826

CDR Kenneth W. Megan leads the Band in this
celebration of the end of summer. The concert is
highlighted by the annual performance of
Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture, which includes
cannon-fire provided by The Artillery Company of
Newport, Rhode Island. If rain, the concert will be held
Sept. 6

Labor Day Weekend Concert
September 6th : 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Free.
West Hartford Town Hall
860-561-7510
http://www.westhartford.com

The Hartford Pops Band will perform a musical
program for all ages at the 19th annual Labor Day
Weekend Concert. Concert-goers are asked to bring
their own lawn chairs and a non-perishable food item
to benefit the Town That Cares program to feed the
hungry. In the event of rain, the concert will move
inside to the Town Hall auditorium. The 36-piece
band will perform a festive program including
Hollywood hits, Broadway show tunes, selections by
contemporary composers and patriotic marches
including the all-time favorite, "Stars and Stripes
Forever."

Show Biz Kids
September 6th : 7 p.m.
Blue Back Square
 The Steely Dan Tribute band plays their rescheduled
show from a July cancellation. The show starts at 7
p.m. Celebrate the end-of-summer holiday with some
live music in the square! The concert is canceled in the
case of inclement weather.

Relaxing/Informative Cruises Aboard the Riverquest
Daily (ends October 31st)
$10 - $40
Eagle Landing State Park
Haddam, CT
860-662-0577
http://ctriverquest.com

Cruise aboard the comfortable eco-tour vessel
RiverQuest on the scenic Connecticut River from
Eagle Landing State Park, Route 82, Haddam, CT.
Cruise is lightly narrated, areas of interest and local
wildlife pointed out (Gillette's Castle, possible bald
eagles).

Story Time & Scavenger Hunt
August 7th
September 4th
October 9th
Admission is included in the regular museum entrance
fee. Reservations are not required. Children must be
accompanied by an adult.

Henry Whitfield State Museum
203-453-2457

Elementary school aged children can enjoy historical
tales and search for interesting and unusual artifacts
this season at Connecticut's oldest house. Scheduled
once a month from June to October, Story Times &
Scavenger Hunts will feature stories about the life of
children in 17th and 18th century New England read
by museum staff and volunteers. The tales will then
be followed by clip board based scavenger hunts in
the Henry Whitfield House.  Each month will feature a
different story as well as a different reading location
at the museum. Children will be able to choose from
two different scavenger hunts at each program. A
Halloween themed hunt is planned for the October
program.

Attic Tour
August 7th : 1:30 p.m.
September 4th : 1:30 p.m.
October 2nd : 1:30 p.m.

Phelps-Hatheway House
55 South Main St., Suffield, CT 06078
860-668-0055

Like many attics, the Phelps-Hatheway attic remained
untouched for generations and was filled with
haphazardly-placed objects. Connecticut Landmarks
hired a curatorial consultant to carry out an "attic
archaeology" project which revealed that the space
was a
veritable time capsule telling the story of family life
on Suffield's historic Main Street.

Polo at Giant Valley Farm
Sundays : 3 p.m. (ends September 26th)
Admission is $10 per carload or $5 per person.

Sleeping Giant State Park
200 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
203-287-7522

Every Sunday through September (weather
permitting). Bring a tailgate and park on the side of
the field, stomp divots at half time. All matches
announced. Presented by the Giant Valley Polo Club.

Fourth Annual Sunflower Maze
Daily : 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (July 31st through September
6th)
$9 ages 13 and older; $5 ages 4 to 12; free
admission for those under 4. $1 from every admission
ticket sold will be donated to the Connecticut
Children's Medical Center.

Lyman Orchards
860-349-1793

This year's maze theme started with ideas from the
kids at Connecticut Children's, who came up with
several upbeat designs. The final selection was made
by fans of The River, 105.9 FM, who must have had
slow-going nature walkers on their mind when they
chose the turtle's giant image to be carved into more
than two miles of picturesque pathways that make up
the amazing sunflower maze.  Open daily 9 a.m. - 5
p.m. (weather permitting). Ticket sales close at 4:30
p.m.

"Carnival!"
Daily (ends September 18th)
$27.50 - $71.
Goodspeed Opera House
860-873-8668

Performances: Wednesday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.;
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (select performances at 2 p.m.);
Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2
p.m. (select performances at 6:30 p.m.). Heart-
warming tale of a naive young woman who eagerly
joins a traveling circus. Surrounded by acrobats and
jugglers, music makers and clowns, she is dazzled at
first by the troupe's manipulative magician. In the end
she finds happiness with a disillusioned puppeteer
who can only express himself through his delightful
puppets. Directed by Darko Tresnjak.

Sunday Afternoon Garden Walks
Every 3rd Sunday of the month : 2 p.m. (ends
September 19th)

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden
203-266-7596

Stroll parterre garden, designed by Ferridays in 1915.
The garden exhibits heirloom roses, lilacs, peonies and
other fragrant blooms. The walks are led by the
museum's Master Gardener, horticultural staff and
special guests. $5 CT Landmarks members; $7
general public.

Hartford Organic Farmers Market

Saturdays : 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Growing Green Co-op
203 New Britain Ave., Hartford, CT
860-246-5700
http://growinggreenco-op.blogspo...

The Growing Green Co-op hosts a year-round Saturday morning farmers market. Help
grow the local economy by supporting Connecticut-grown and manufactured products.
The market will feature a large percentage of organic and sustainable items. Plenty of
parking is available in the lot next to the Co-op (adjacent to the Trinity College Hockey
Rink). The market is held each Saturday, rain or shine. For more information, visit the
Growing Green Co-Op Web site.

Building America's Canals exhibit
(ends October 11th)
Admission: $24 adults; $15 youth (ages 6 -17). Children 5 and under and Museum
members are admitted for free.

Mystic Seaport
75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355
888-973-2767

Organized by the National Canal Museum of Easton, PA, Building America's Canals
blends history and science through hands-on activities and encourages visitors of all ages
to step into the roles of lock tender, canal engineer, crane operator and canalboat captain.
Divided into four sections relating to key canal structures – locks, masonry arches, cranes
and aqueducts – each area will feature accompanying interpretive panels with
photographs, diagrams and text detailing the historical context for America's canals.

Additionally, the exhibit features enlarged historic photographs from the Museum's
collections documenting canals, as well as a rare 1845 poster advertising the New Haven
and Northampton Daily Canal Boat Line that once connected coastal Connecticut to
central Massachusetts.

Thursday's At The Dock

Thursdays : 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (July 8th through September 2nd)
$5 reduced museum admission; members free.

Connecticut River Museum
860-767-8269
http://www.ctrivermuseum.org

Cocktails and music overlooking historic Essex Harbor. First floor gallery, museum shop and North deck open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cash bar and light snacks. Sunset cruises aboard the schooner Mary E depart at 6 p.m. Enjoy the natural beauty and rich heritage of New England's Great River.

"The Band Slayed On: A Murderous Musical Mystery Tour"

Fridays : 7 p.m. (ends August 27th)
$45.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
800-377-3987

"The Band Slayed On: A Murderous Musical Mystery Tour," written by Anna Maria Trusky and Ira Sakolsky, weaves together an intriguing tale about a newly formed rock band including a colorful cast of characters -- a ravishing Russian percussionist, a fiery Spanish former matador, and a washed-up British rock star. They're on their first U.S. tour, and the Essex Clipper is their ticket to success and superstardom. But secrets, rivalries, and creative differences threaten to throw the tour off course.  Reservations required.

Schooner Mary E Cruises

Daily (ends October 30th)

Connecticut River Museum
860-767-8269

The historic schooner Mary E has returned to the Connecticut River Museum for daily river cruises and private charters throughout this summer and fall foliage season. The 75-foot gaff rigged schooner was built in 1906 in Bath, Maine and believed to be one of the last remaining of her kind. She is typical of the ships that sailed up and down the New England Coast and the Connecticut River, stopping at ports like Essex to pick up and offload a variety of goods.  Afternoon cruises, which include admission to the museum’s exhibits and galleries, are $26 per adult and $16 for children age 12 and under. Sunset sails are $30 per person, all ages. Through Oct. 30.

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