Have you been thinking that this weekend would be a good time to watch a bunch of lumberjacks, shuck a few oysters, take a spin on a few rides, and check out music acts such as Lou Gramm? Well, fortunate you. The 35th Norwalk Oyster Festival should fit your bill. Spanning Friday, Sept. 7, to Sunday, Sept. 9, there are activities planned for all ages, as well as cuisine that should match all tastes. You can get all the specifics at the event’s website. (For instance, you’ll see that the Village People will take the stage on Saturday night. Above, you can see one of the band’s classic hits from the 70s.)
But, like most weekends, the oyster festival is not the only show in town. When it comes to music, the choices are vast and varied. There is something for French horn fans, jazz (and Grace Kelly) fans, and people who are partial to saxophones. Taylor Hicks is coming to Bridgeport; a “Salute to Broadway” is coming to Danbury, the Alan Evans Trio makes a stop in Farifield; the KungFu String Girls Band plan to take a bow in Mashantucket; Art Garfunkel postpones, but Michael McDonald is still set to perform in Ridgefield; Bob Dylan comes to Mohegan Sun; and the Fairfield County Chorale kicks off its 50th season. Some other venues are hosting musicians, including the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, Pequot Library in Fairfield, Edmond Town Hall in Newtown and the Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield.
In New Haven, one will can catch a day full of music, along with lots of information about environmental initiatives, businesses and organizations. In Bridgeport, one can find an instrument petting zoo.
Lovers of cinema, and of Christopher Plummer, in particular, should get their calenders and circle, tag or whatever it is they need to do, the date of Saturday, Sept. 8. That is the day he will be at the Ridgefield Playhouse for a question-and-answer session following the screening of “Beginners.” Plummer won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in the film. At the Avon in Stamford, Zamir Gotta, who appears on the Food and Travel channels will be at a screening of some of his films Sept. 12.
If you like to get pummeled for a good cause, the second annual L’Atrella Charity Dodgeball Tournament will take place on Saturday in Stratford. Individuals are still welcome to sign up for the competition, which raises money for the Sterling House, a multiservice community center.Or, perhaps your sense of support is more aligned with a night of cabaret.
Several art shows and historical exhibitions open this weekend as well, including “Masters Series” by Peter Max at the Geary Gallery (see Max’s “Liberty Head” at right/Contributed photo), “Forging a Community: Stamford on the Gridiron and on the Diamond 1860 to 1975″ at the Stamford Historical Society, Andy Romer’s photographs in Wilton, works by artists Elisa Khachian and Sandra Meagher in Bridgeport, “Divergent Views” in Fairfield, and “Water, Water Everywhere” in Greenwich.
Choices, choices, choices. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have fun.
Until next time …
