Bartlett Arboretum, Stamford - Summer Concerts

The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens summer concert is a great place to see a concert in a beautiful location.  Concerts are Sundays with a 10:00 a.m. classical concert and a 5:00 p.m. "pop" concert.  The concert list is the following: http://bartlettarboretum.org/SUMMER-CONCERTS

The concerts are free but there is a charge to enter the arboretum.  Adults are $6 each and children under 12 are free.  Memberships to the arboretum are $75 for a family and $60 for an individual.  The gardens are beautiful and there are many trails for walking the dog.  Wednesdays at the arboretum are free to the public, so a good time to go and check it out.  For more information go to: http://bartlettarboretum.org/Home

Any gardeners out there?  The Bartlett Arboretum has a free plant clinic and will answer your questions regarding garden plants and problems, trees, shrubs, deer resistant plants, shade vs. sun, soil analysis, garden pests, diseases, house plants, etc.  Call and be put in touch with a UCONN Master Gardener.  (203) 322-6971 ex. 24.  You might have to leave a message but they will contact you back.

The Bog Walk in the Woods

Dutchess Rail Trail in Dutchess County, NY

So, we all know how safe it is to ride your bike around the streets of Fairfield County.  Ya... so its great to find a good rail trail.  As Fairfield County, CT doesn't offer many options (there is a small dirt rail trail in Trumbull), The Dutchess Rail Trail makes for a great day out.  The drive to the start of the trail in Hopewell Junction, NY is about 30 to 90 minutes, depending on where you live in Fairfield County.

The Dutchess Rail Trail is currently around a 30 mile roundtrip ride.  It is completely paved with few road crossings and most of those road crossings were over driveways to old industrial parks - not busy.  Even the regular road crossings were not an issue.  The few busy roads you do have to pass, bridges have been built over them, so its not an issue.  There are parking lots to the trail every few miles, so you can do a short or long ride.  Being a rail trail, this is a very flat and easy ride.

The trail is not busy until you get to the Walkway Over The Hudson.  The Walkway bridge is over a mile long and has amazing views.  It can get a little windy on the bridge and crowded.  There are parking lots and food concessions on either side of the bridge, so when riding your bike, just know that you will have to go slow on the bridge and look out for people.  The Rail Trail continues for about two miles after the bridge and once you are off the bridge, the crowds are gone.

It was a hot day but most of the Rail Trail is in the shade.  There are also benches all along the rail trail if you need a break.

A bridge over a busy Road

One of the crossings

Walkway Over The Hudson - only time you will have crowds

The bridge and views (the views are so much better than my pictures)

Small concession areas are on either side of the bridge

For parking for the Rail Trail go to: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/countygov/departments/dpw-parks/17285.htm   

In the past we have parked at the restaurant Daddy O's in Hopewell Junction, which has parking for the Rail Trail.  It is great?  No, but for a drink and nachos it fits the bill.  http://daddyoshopewell.com

For information about Walkway Over The Hudson, go to: https://www.walkway.org

A great little place to stop once you are over the bridge and want to eat is Mariner's on the Hudson.  It has outdoor seating and you can see it from the bridge.  Its a great place to eat if you want to break up the ride.  Just know that its easy getting down to the restaurant as its downhill to the water, coming back up to the trail will give you quite the workout.  http://www.marinersonhudson.com

There are also picnic tables and benches along the route and you can just bring your own picnic.

Woodland Park in Darien

If you are near Noroton Heights in Darien and in the mood for a walk in the woods, Woodland Park off Middlesex Road is a great destination.  Does it feel like you are in the middle of Vermont?  No, the noise from I-95 is rather noticeable and kind of spoils the mood.  However, it is still a great walk.  The trails are wide and wind around, so there is the ability to get a good little workout.  There is a decent parking lot on the Middlesex entrance and there are sidewalks outside of the park all the way into Noroton Heights.  

Trail Marker

Wide Paths

 A few small clearings and ponds make it interesting for the kids.

For more information about Woodland Park, go to: http://www.woodlandparknaturepreserve.com

New Canaan Concert Series at Waveny and Special Kids Concert

Each Summer The New Canaan Recreation Department presents the Waveny Summer Concert Series.  The concerts are every Wednesday night (weather permitting) and are free.  The musical performances are pretty good, nothing note worthy, but fun and most people set up a picnic while kids run around the fields.  Bathrooms are available in the Waveny House.  For the concert schedule, go to: http://www.newcanaan.info/filestorage/9494/9226/1128/8874/2014_Concerts_Poster.pdf

For directions to Waveny House, go to: http://www.newcanaan.info/content/9492/9224/675/1531.aspx


There is a special kids concert on Monday, 7th featuring Dre Towey.  The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. behind the Waveny house and ends at 6:30 p.m.  This will be a concert for young children.  For information about Dre Towey go to: http://www.reverbnation.com/dretowey 

The date for the Children's concert has multiple different dates on various websites but I called to confirm with the Rec Dept.  It is Monday July 7th at 5:30 p.m.  http://www.newcanaan.info/-


The New Canaan concerts are fun.  Are they as good as the Ridgefield concerts?  Probably not, but that is for another day.

Norwalk Arts Festival, Hall Full Brewery 5K, Boston Pops in Stamford and more

There are some pretty cool events coming up in the next few days.

Norwalk Arts Festival at Mathews Parks (this is not the SoNo Arts Festival which will take place in August).  For information go to: http://norwalkartfestival.org/index.html

The Second Annual Art Walk in Stamford this weekend: http://stamford-downtown.com/events/artwalk./#.U6zkExZW138

Half Full Brewery is sponsoring a 5k race on The Waterfront at Harbor Point.  How cool is this - at different times during the race, runners will have to hop, skip and/or jump - and that's before you've had any beer!  After the race there will be games and food trucks at Harbor Point.  The race is to raise money for Achilles International.  For information go to: http://halffullbrewery.com

The Boston Pops are coming to Stamford on Monday, June 30th!  Well, some of them anyway.  Keith Lockhart will be conducting a ten piece ensemble from the Boston Pops.  Bedford Street will be closed between Spring and Broadway from 5pm -8pm.  Parking will be tight, so I would suggest the parking garage across from the Landmark Parking garage.

Rowayton - Shakespeare On The Sound - only three performances left!

Went tonight to see Shakespeare On The Sound present, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.  The event has a suggested donation of $20 per adult and $10 per child but you can donate any amount.  The park opens at 4pm for  putting down blankets or chairs.  Chair areas are limited by height.  If you want to bring your own chair and be close, make sure its a very low chair.  There are some chairs that can be reserved for a price of $35.

Shakespeare On The Sound is held at Pinkney Park in Rowayton.  Parking is available at the community lot in Rowayton and in a small field area across the street from the park (about 75 yards away).  Cars are allowed to drop off at Pinkney Park, so no need to worry about carrying chairs and a heavy cooler.  A police officer will be at the entrance of the park and can point out where to park, etc.  It is also only a ten minute walk from the Rowayton Train station. For the location of the park, go to: https://plus.google.com/100201990192173927054/about?gl=us&hl=en

The play starts at 7:30 p.m. but at 6:30 p.m. a children's version of the play is preformed.  It is a great way for kids to understand what the play is about in modern English.  It also kind of helped this adult, I was never familiar with The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Children's Production at 6:30

The view from our blanket while eating dinner.  

We brought our own but Brendan's 101 has a table serving up food.  We had ice cream there during intermission.  Brendan's 101 is a cute destination to take the kids while in Rowayton and worth a trip, at least for ice cream.  http://www.brendans101.com

The Stage

With only three more shows until next year, its worth a trip.  

Revolutionary War Fort in Stamford

Yes, there is a Fort from the Revolutionary War in Stamford. Well, what's left of it and really that isn't much.  Regardless, its neat to take the children.  What makes it really nice is the garden next to the fort, originally part of a mansion that was next to the fort - the mansion is also gone.  

The Fort is located on Westover Road in Stamford - not far from the Mianus River Park.  It is the perfect location for a nice picnic or photo shoot in the garden.

This is where the Fort use to be - not the building but the mound of earth

The Garden.  Thanks to the Stamford Garden Club, it is worth a trip for the garden alone.  A great place to take pictures.

One happy dog

For some historical information about the fort, please go to: http://www.stamfordhistory.org/rg12.htm

The park closes at sunset and is free.