Category Archives: Arts

Last Call for Seats to Tanglewood, July 20

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Joshua Bell

Joshua Bell

Only three seats remain for the Tanglewood Trip on Sunday July 20, sponsored by The Friends of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony.

Joshua Bell, noted violinist, will be performing Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra. Rouse’s Rapture is the opening piece and Beethoven’s incomparable Symphony No. 5 closes the concert.  The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new Music Director, Andris Nelsons conducts.

The trip costs $110 and includes a ticket in the shed, round trip bus fare with gratuity, a lecture on the way up by David Brensilver, and wine and cheese on the way home.  The bus leaves the New London Shopping Center at the fence below Town Fair Tire Center at 10 am sharp.  It arrives at Tanglewood around 12:30 p.m. to give you two hours to picnic on the beautiful grounds or to purchase lunch. The concert starts at 2:30 pm.
Bus returns directly after the concert; anticipated arrival back is between 7 and 8 p.m.
To reserve seats, call the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Office at 860-443-2876.

Old Lyme’s Luanne Rice Receives Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award

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Luanne Rice with Governor Dannel Malloy after presentation of her award.

Luanne Rice with Governor Dannel Malloy after presentation of her award.

On the heels of the paperback release of  The Lemon Orchard, Old Lyme resident and bestselling author Luanne Rice has been honored with a prestigious award from the state of Connecticut for excellence and lifetime achievement as a literary artist.

Rice received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award in the Literary Arts category during a ceremony in New Haven on June 14.  The event, hosted in conjunction with the opening of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, also recognize Connecticut-born actor Christopher Plummer and visual artist Tim Prentice.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my home state for such a prominent award, and I am humbled to stand alongside two other great artists,” said Rice, whose 31 bestselling novels have been translated into 24 languages.

The Governor’s Award has been handed out by the state’s Governor’s office annually since 1978.  More than 140 artists, organizations and patrons have been noted for their dedication and service to the arts in the state, including Helen Frankenthaler, Arthur Miller and Gene Wilder.

Luanne Rice sits with fellow award winner, Christopher Plummer.

Luanne Rice sits with fellow award winner, Christopher Plummer.

Rice’s dedication to the arts goes back to childhood.  Her first published poem appeared in the Hartford Courant when she was just 11-years old, and her first short story was published in American Girl Magazine when she was 15. Her debut novel, “Angels All Over Town,” was published in 1985.

In 2002, Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the college’s Special Collections Library.  She has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn.

Several of Rice’s novels have been made into television adaptations, including “Crazy in Love” for TNT, “Blue Moon” for CBS, “Follow the Stars Home” and “Silver Bells” for the Hallmark Hall of Fame, and “Beach Girls” for a summer 2005 mini-series on Lifetime.

Rice’s work has also been featured at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut, the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California and in several off-Broadway theatre productions.

Rice recently released her latest bestselling novel, The Lemon Orchard, in paperback.  The story, detailing the unexpected love story of two people from different worlds, has received rave reviews.  Rice will be discussing and signing copies of her book on Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts during this year’s Midsummer Festival.

Editor’s Note: Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of 31 novels that have been translated into 24 languages.  The author of The Lemon Orchard, Little Night, The Silver Boat and Beach Girls, Rice’s books often center on love, family, nature and the sea.  Rice is an avid naturalist and bird-watcher and is involved with Georgetown University Law Center’s Domestic Violence Clinic.  Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Rice divides her time between New York City and shoreline Connecticut.  Follow her at www.luannerice.com, on Twitter @LuanneRice and at facebook.com/luannericebooks.

Marine Art Exhibition on Display at Lyme Art Association

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'Breezy Afternoon', (oil on linen, 22" x 28") by Neal Hughes is the signature painting of the exhibition opening at the LAA tonight.

‘Breezy Afternoon’, (oil on linen, 22″ x 28″) by Neal Hughes is the signature painting of the exhibition opening at the LAA tonight.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy the LAA’s summer exhibition of work by the country’s premier maritime artists, American Waters, on view in the LAA’s sky-lit galleries from June 6 through July 27.  The exhibition will feature work by the American Society of Marine Artists as invited guests, alongside exciting marine work by LAA artists.

Russ Kramer, an internationally recognized marine painter, will jury the exhibition.  Kramer notes, “What better place for an exhibition of marine-inspired art than the Lyme Art Association … a true landmark in our region’s artistic history whose proximity to the Lieutenant and Connecticut rivers and Long Island Sound has inspired artists for a century. These new works in the exhibition American Waters are by many of the finest practitioners of marine art working today. To think the same subjects continue to inspire us a hundred years later is testament to this area’s enduring allure.”

Executive Director Joseph Newman states, “American Waters continues an LAA tradition of exhibiting the very best of fine contemporary American marine painting. We are grateful to the members of the American Society of Marine Artists, who are joining us as invited guests, and we would especially like to thank our premier media sponsor, The Day, and our presenting sponsor, the restaurant, Fresh Salt, along with juror Russ Kramer, for making this exhibition happen.”

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Conn., in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within a national historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member of the LAA, call (860) 434-7802.

Cappella Cantorum Presents Men’s Chorus Concert Today

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Cappella Cantorum Men’s Chorus will present a concert on Sunday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 56 Great Hammock Rd. Old Saybrook.

The concert, in air conditioned comfort, features selections from Irving Berlin and Oklahoma, A Patriotic Salute, Just a Closer Walk and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.

Tickets are $15 at CappellaCantorum.org or 860-526- 1038 or at the door.  Children 12 and under are free.

Passion At The Bee: Big Book Getaway Summer Series Kicks Off With Romance, Erotica Novelists, Today

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Bestselling Authors L. Marie Adeline, Charles Dubow and Lauren Willig to discuss their work with Moderator, Nick Hahn, at the historic Bee & Thistle Inn

Summer is right around the corner, and with warm weather comes fun and relaxing days spent at the beach … but, no beach day is complete without a good book.  And, warmer weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to this summer: The Big Book Getaway Blockbuster Summer Reading Series opens on June 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the historic Bee and Thistle Inn in Old Lyme, CT.

The new summer series will feature themed events from June through September, sponsored by The Day.  The first event, titled ‘Passion at the Bee,’ will feature bestselling authors Lauren Willig, Charles Dubow, and L. Marie Adeline, moderated by Nick Hahn.  The beautiful Bee & Thistle Inn provides the perfect setting, and will serve a full luncheon and dessert for all attendees, prepared by Chef Kristofer Rowe.

Lauren Willig.

Lauren Willig.

An expert at keeping her readers riveted, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig uses elements of mystery and romance to immerse readers from around the world in her stories.  With translations into more than a dozen languages, Willig’s books have received the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.

Her works have also been selected for the American Library Association’s annual list of the best genre fiction.  Willig is the author of the “Pink Carnation” series, based in Napoleonic times, and her latest work, “That Summer,” will be released on June 3.

Charles Dubow’s life experiences have taken him to many different places, and now he finds himself making a strong debut in the literary world with “Indiscretion,” a moving and multifaceted tale. Before his move into literature, Dubow was Founding Editor at Forbes.com and later became an editor at Businessweek.com.

“Indiscretion” is an irresistibly sexy and sleek story of love, lust, and betrayal retold through the eyes of a close confidant and observer.   This remarkable debut is an exciting, textured novel that smartly explores the boundaries of marriage, friendship, and fidelity, and reminds us that sometimes perspective is everything.  “Indiscretion” is a summer read that is impossible to put down, and you are unlikely to forget.  Intriguing, seductive, alluring—this is a book to take to the beach and devour before sunset.

Lisa Gabriele

Lisa Gabriele

The S.E.C.R.E.T. erotica trilogy is published in more than 30 countries, and is a bestseller in many of them.  They’re written by L. Marie Adeline, a pseudonym for Lisa Gabriele, who has also written Tempting Faith DiNapoli and the Almost Archer Sisters, both bestsellers.  She also writes and produces for television and radio, and was the show runner on the Gemini and Screen award-winning CBC reality program, Dragons’ Den.

Her essays and articles have appeared in several anthologies and in the New York Times Magazine, New York magazine, the Washington Post, Salon, Nerve, Glamour, Flare, Elle and Chatelaine.  She was the original Dear Diary columnist for Vice Magazine. Adeline’s articles on feminism and erotica have been read widely; her most recent piece on the relationship between the two subjects is “Is Feminism Un-erotic?” for XO Jane and for Salon.com.

Nick Hahn.

Nick Hahn.

Nick Hahn’s writing career started during his days as a student at the University of Notre Dame.  He later became President and CEO of Cotton Inc., and eventually went on to form Hahn International, LTD, an agribusiness consulting group primarily focused on third world countries.  Hahn has spent 14 years living abroad working amongst indigenous people from Africa to Latin America, writing down observations of social and political unrest in travel journals.

Hahn’s 14 years abroad inspired his first novel, “Under the Skin.”  In addition to writing his novel, Hahn also writes and narrates audiobooks.  Nick Hahn previously appeared at the Big Book Getaway at Mohegan Sun in February 2014 on the International Thrillers panel.  Hahn also moderated the Avon Romance panel at the same event.

Tickets to “Passion at The Bee” are $55 each, which includes a full luncheon, dessert, author presentations and book signing session.  Visit www.thebigbookclub.org for more information or to purchase tickets.

Tickets are also available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/684004 .

The June 7 event will be the first of four events to be held this summer and fall.  The Day Publishing Company is the title sponsor for the series; The Day is an award-winning multi-media company and daily newspaper that covers a 20 town region in eastern Connecticut.  LymLine.com and ValleyNewsNow.com are also media partners.

The historic Bee and Thistle Innis an important stop within Old Lyme, Connecticut’s art colony, arguably one of the most famous Impressionist-oriented art communities in America.   While retaining the integrity of the historic landmark built in 1756, the transformed Bee and Thistle Inn provides a link to the past while nurturing artists of the present.  Innkeepers Linnea and David Rufo are building an inspirational environment which serves as a gathering place for artists and authors to collaborate, display and sell their work.  Visit the Inn’s website at www.beeandthistleinn.com.

The official bookseller for the event is Bank Square Books of Mystic.  Locally owned and independently operated, Bank Square Books has been a staple of the downtown Mystic community for 25 years.