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carriage arts barn 36th annual "photography show"

1/28/2016

Fairfield County "It!" recently went to the
38th Annual
Carriage Barn Arts Center

"Photography Show"

in New Canaan.

The mission of the
New Canaan Society
for the Arts, Inc.
is to promote the visual and performing arts, and to enrich the community through exhibitions, education, and cultural experiences, and to operate the
Carriage Barn Arts Center.

Artists are offered opportunities to exhibit their work in an exceptional gallery space in a unique nineteenth-century stone barn, on the grounds of a former estate, now
Waveny Park.

"NYC" Jeanne Castalucci

Over 40 members of
Fairfield County "It!"
attended the exhibit.

One of us even had a photograph in the show!
Here is Jeanne Castalucci's

"NYC".

A vibrant shot of the streets of New York.

The exhibition was juried by Jan Nagle who is affiliated with
The Center for Photography at Woodstock.
Jan is a nationally exhibited fine artist with works in several public and private collections, including
Light Work and The Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Below is Jan's comment about her "Best in Show":

"Karen Neems’ meticulous organization of the frame draws the viewer into spaces that simultaneously skew; the combination is seamless and mesmerizing."

"Shadowplay" Karen Neems

"Clouds East Haven" Florence Minnis

"Clouds East Haven"
by Florence Minnis
was one of my favorites.

Looking at the photo,
I could feel the sand underfoot and the soft breeze gloriously scented with sea air.

I wanted to join this young lady,
Ava,
on her magical journey.

"Ava" Jeanne McDonagh

A delightful variety of photographic works of art.

On view thru February 21, 2016.

Thank you New Canaan Society for the Arts and
Carriage Barn Arts Center!

"It!" Woman Kyle

"Scenes of a Mud Puddle" Brandon McKenzie

"Green Grace" JeanMarc Bara

"Home" Barbara Ringer

delizioso! - cava wine bar & restaurant New canaan

1/21/2016

Fairfield County "It!" had a delicious time at

Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant

in New Canaan, Connecticut!

When you enter
Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant
you step off the streets of downtown New Canaan
into a subterranean brick walled restaurant with Italian decor.
.
As you walk forward,
toward the well-appointed bar, the historic walls turn to stone completing the cave (Cava) effect.

Earlier that evening
Fairfield County "It!"
attended the
Carriage Barn Arts Center
annual
"Photography Show".

Afterward, more than thirty of us descended upon Cava.

We were greeted by Nube
Siquenza, Executive Chef and an owner of Cava.

I spoke to Nube (New-bay) about her passion for Italian cuisine. She told me how she loved cooking as a child and her dream of becoming a great chef.

Her vision is actualized in the cuisine at Cava Wine Bar reflecting Nube's creative culinary flair, and resolve to use only the highest quality and freshest ingredients available in the market.

The menu is designed in classic Italian fashion

Antipasti
Insalate
Paste
Pizze
Secondi
Contorni
Dolci

I started off dinner with one of my favorites:

Charred Octopus

The octopus was a perfect density and paired wonderfully with the black garlic aioli, charred potatoes and crisp celery greens.

One of my table companions ordered

Seared Sea Scallops

Sautéed lobster, grilled asparagus, mushroom risotto cakes

The presentation is gorgeous and my friend said it was delicious. I am definitely going to order it next time!

At the table next door, one of our group ordered the hearty

Veal Milanese

Lemon aioli, baby arugula salad, plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, shaved parmesan

She was pleased!

All of the pasta is house made.

One of our vegetarians ordered the

Pappardelle

Roasted chicken, wild mushrooms, black truffle oil, rosemary, parmesan cheese
(minus the chicken)

The wild mushroom sauce paired with the al dente pappardelle remind me of dining in Tuscany. Perfect with a glass of Chianti Classico.

Which brings me to Cava's wine list.
An extensive selection of both Old and New World Wines.
Here is the link to the
Wine List

Everyone had a wonderful time as we closed the restaurant!

Thank you Cava Wine Bar and Nube!

"It!" Woman Kyle

Dog Days of Winter - Bendheim gallery

1/20/2016

Fairfield County "It!" recently went to the Greenwich Arts Council's Bendheim Gallery
for

"Dog Days of Winter"

after a luncheon near the top of Greenwich Avenue at

Blackstone's Steakhouse.

Upon entering the building, we stepped up the staircase, turned into the gallery on the left, and bumped into this handsome fellow made of metal and bicycle rims.

Donald Landsman Blue's Head

Pam Ackley Best Friends

A bit later, we fell in love with this adorable duo.

In the center of the gallery we met Greenwich based photographer
Geoffrey Nichols
with his beloved dog and model, Pixie.

Pixie was fashionably dressed in a cape reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, as pictured below.

Geoffrey is in the process of launching a philanthropic iPhone game based on her called FROGBAT later this year!

When free from photo shoots Pixie volunteers at hospice and homes for the elderly.

Geoffrey Nichols Pug Roll

Denis Curtiss Grayhound

Not only were the dogs intriguing and fancy, but the people attending the exhibit were fashionably attired as well.

Notice the boots, umbrella and coat.

The exhibit,
full of multifaceted interpretations of canine,
left us feeling full of doggy warmth on a soggy January day.

Go see it before it closes February 25, 2016!

Thank you Greenwich Arts Council for putting together a wonderful show!

"It!" Woman Kyle

Westport -Weston First Night 2016! December 31, 2015

1/6/2016

Fairfield County "It!"
spent the final night of 2015
at the
Westport-Weston
First Night
festivities.

We started our evening at the
Westport Historical Society
to hear Mark Naftalin a very accomplished jazz blues pianist.

During the mid 60's he was the pianist of the historic
Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and inducted into the
Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame
in 2015.

 You should have been there, it was great!

Next we headed over to
Luxe Wine Bar & Craft Cocktails
for a glass of wine and a small bite of

Chilled hardboiled eggs with whipped yolk, stone ground mustard, smoked Hungarian paprika & caviar
Four local artisan cheeses: Fat Fowl Triple Creme, Gorgonzola Dolce, Klaverkass Estate Gouda, & Montchevre Goat with dried fruit, quince paste & house made crostini

They have a limited menu, but make the most of each listed item.
My favorite, the

Fat Fowl Triple Creme -
Sinfully Divine.

I excitedly discovered the Fireworks
launched off a barge in the Saugatuck River
could be seen from the top of the hill on downtown Westport's Main Street!

Westport Community Theatre offered clever one act comedies. We enjoyed two shows:

Smoke Scene
&
1-800

Here is a frustrated Frank, Alexander Kulcsar, with Phone Voice, Ann Kinner,
in 1-800.

Afterward, we decided to venture into the
Fortune Teller location.

As you can see from the picture we look forward to a lively future!

After First Night
we headed over to
The Spotted Horse
for their NYE dining and dancing celebration with the Billy Guenario band.

The Ball just dropped!

Happy New Year! Looking forward 2016!!

Cheers!

"It!" Woman Kyle

Top of Main St

Midnight

Taxi!

Westport Holiday Crane

carriage arts barn 36th annual "photography show"

delizioso! - cava wine bar & restaurant New canaan

Dog Days of Winter - Bendheim gallery

Westport -Weston First Night 2016! December 31, 2015

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