Violinists James Ehnes and Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist Richard O’Neill, and Musical Masterworks’ own Artistic Director, cellist Edward Arron perform in this weekend’s concerts.

This December, Musical Masterworks debuts internationally acclaimed violinist James Ehnes and the Ehnes Quartet on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

Hailed as “an important new force in the chamber music arena” with a “dream-team line-up” (Strings), the Ehnes Quartet is comprised of four internationally-renowned string musicians: violinists James Ehnes and Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist Richard O’Neill, and Musical Masterworks’ own Artistic Director, cellist Edward Arron.

Formally established in 2010, the members of the Ehnes Quartet have played chamber music together in various formations for more than 20 years. The quartet’s highly refined, sensitive and expressive performances have delighted audiences and critics across North America, Europe, and Asia, and have made them one of the most sought-after chamber groups performing today.

Musical Masterworks continues its popular pre-concert talks before both concerts.  Concertgoers are invited to join Edward Arron one hour before each of the December concerts for an in-depth discussion about the composers and music featured that weekend:  Haydn, Bartók and Beethoven.

As Light Up Old Lyme sponsored by the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce continues this weekend, there are a multitude of events today followed by many more over the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Here’s a detailed listing:

Saturday, December 2 

Elephants in Winter hosted by the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme’s Ladies Benevolent Society
9am-1pm: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. Gently used seasonal items galore on sale. Holiday version of the summer White Elephant Sale. Free admission. Refreshments. Raffle. Benefits the church’s mission programs.

Cookie Walk hosted by Child & Family Agency
9am-12 noon: Old Lyme Town Hall. Choose from a huge selection of beautiful, delicious, homemade cookies. Buy by weight. Other gift items for sale. Benefits the Child & Family Agency.

Holiday Book Sale hosted by the Old Lyme Library’s BookCellar
9am-2pm: Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library . Free admission.  Special events for children planned in the library during the Saturday sale. 11-11:45am: Pirate Storytime – Special performance by Free Men of the Sea suitable for all ages.

Pictures with Santa!  hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB)  Donations benefit LYSB.
10am-12 noon: Old Lyme Town Hall. Meet Santa and his Elves!

Weekend Holiday Open House hosted by Lyme Street Studios at the Village Shops, 10-12 Lyme Street
11am-4pm: Visit the studios of nationally-recognized artists Judy Friday, Sandy Garvin and Deborah Quinn-Munson. Painting demonstration by Quinn-Munson at 2 p.m. Open House continues Sunday, Dec. 3, 11am-4pm

Concert by ‘James Ehnes and the Ehnes Quartet’ hosted by Musical Masterworks
5pm: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.  Second performance: Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3pm. Four internationally renowned string musicians play chamber music. Tickets: $40 (adult), $5 (students) at MusicalMasterworks.org or 860.434.2252.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE BEING HELD THROUGHOUT OR ON SPECIFIC DATES IN THE REMAINING WEEKS OF DECEMBER

Holiday Pops Concert by Old Lyme Town Band
Sunday, Dec. 3: 2pm: Lymes’ Senior Center, Town Woods Rd., Old Lyme. Free admission.
Duck River Garden Club Annual Community Wreath Making Event
Monday, Dec. 4: 6:30pm: Rogers Lake Community Center. Public invited to join Club in creating wreaths for town buildings.

The Partnership Co-Op* Annual Holiday Sale
Thursday, Dec. 7: 6-8pm  Grand Opening Reception  Wine, snacks and a raffle at 264 Main St., Old Saybrook (the old Southern Exposure building.) Store hours: Fridays, Dec. 8 & 15 and Saturdays, Dec. 9 & 16: 10am-6pm, Sundays, Dec. 10 & 17: 11am-5pm.
* Tribal Crafts, Inc. (Lakota art and crafts), The Crosby Fund for Haitian Education, and the Tree of Life Educational Fund.

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts of the University of New Haven
Friday, Dec. 8: 5-8 pm
2017 Juried Alumni Exhibition Opening Reception. Juried by Jeff and Betsey Cooley. Exhibition on view through Jan. 20, 2018. Free admission. Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Student Holiday Art Sale Opening Reception Cash & Carry Sale. Students receive 100% of proceeds.
Sale continues Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 9 & 10: 10am-4pm

Con Brio
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8pm & Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3pm. Christmas Concert at Christ The King RC Church with Danielle Munsell Howard, soprano. Open seating, unreserved. Tickets: $30 or $15 for students at conbrio.org or 860.526.5399 or at the door.

Eastern Connecticut Ballet at The Garde, New London
Saturday Dec 9 at 1:30 & 7pm and Sunday, Dec 10 at 1:30pm.  Nutcracker. Tickets at 860-444-7373 ext.1 or gardearts.org.

Old Lyme Historical Society (OLHS)
Saturdays, Dec. 9 & 16: 10am-2pm Holiday Sale of OLHS Books & Gifts at Old Lyme Post Office
Sale of books, calendars, household items and other Society merchandise.

Florence Griswold Museum
Ongoing through Dec. 31, 2017: Magic of Christmas exhibition of beautifully decorated trees. Sleigh Days at The Museum Shop through Dec. 24. Open Tuesday through Sat. 10am-5pm, Sunday: 1-5pm. Tickets: $10 (adult), $9 (senior), $8 (student) at door.

Lyme Art Association
Ongoing through Jan. 5, 2018. Deck the Walls exhibition features more than 200 original works of art by member artists on display and priced to sell as holiday gifts. Free admission. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am-5pm, and by appointment.

This information is published by the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce to support our members, but we are not responsible for the accuracy of the information it contains. For more information about the Chamber and the benefits of membership, go to visitoldlyme.com or call Chamber President, Olwen Logan at 860.460.4176.

The Chamber has also listed these events in this year’s Light Up Old Lyme flyer, which you can read at this link  and find in paper form at many of these organizations, stores and galleries around town.

Ramblin’ Dan Stevens will provide musical entertainment on Friday evening during the Opening Reception for the Holiday Book Sale.

Wine Reception on Friday with Gift Quality & Collectible Books in Festively-Decorated Reading Room, Everything Half Price in BookCellar; Sale Continues Saturday with Pirate Storytime at 11am

3. Rare books like these will be available for purchase throughout both days of the sale.

The BookCellar at the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes (OLPGN) Library is pleased to invite the community to its annual Holiday Book Sale on the evening of Friday, Dec. 1, and during the day on Saturday, Dec. 2.  Kick off this year’s holiday season by choosing books as gifts and supporting your local library at the same time!

More than 5,000 books carefully sorted by category, including many rare and collectible books, will be offered for sale in two different locations in the library.   Upstairs in the festively-decorated Reading Room, the focus this year is on gift quality and collectible books, along with DVD’s and CD’s.  Prints of historic local maps from 1868 of towns in New London County will also be on sale.

Downstairs in the BookCellar’s usual  home, all the books will be half-price or less. The BookCellar is including its extensive collection of rare, collectible, and first edition fiction books in this year’s sale.

The Opening Reception and Sale, which features a wine and cheese reception, will be held on Friday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m.  Acclaimed local musician Ramblin’ Dan Stevens will play throughout the reception.

2. Pirates from ‘Free Men of the Sea’ will present a show at 11am on Saturday for children and their families.

The sale continues on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  ‘Free Men of the Sea’ will present a Pirate Storytime for all ages between 11 and 11:45 a.m.

Historic maps of local towns including Old Lyme make perfect holiday gifts.

There will be books from all genres – from Children’s and Young Adults to Art and Photography, the Classics, History and Biography, small gift books and large coffee table books.  There is a large collection of First Edition hardcover books, many with protective Mylar covers.

Dealers are welcome and there are no buyer restrictions.  Most prices will range from $2 to $5, with a special bargain table with books priced under one dollar.  All proceeds benefit the Library.

The Library is located at 2 Library Lane, off Lyme Street. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.to 7 p.m.;  Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If the Library’s parking lot is full, additional spaces are available on Lyme Street. There is also a lot behind the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall across the street from the Library.

For more information about the library or questions about the sale, call 860-434-1684 or visit www.oldlyme.lioninc.org.