“I’m inspired by practically anything visual or verbal — or even real life.” – Edward Gorey

Artist and author Edward Gorey was an “inveterate collector – he called it ‘accumulating.' A variety of objects shaped his artistic mindset, from works of popular culture to the more than 26,000 books he owned and the art pieces in his vast collection.”

“This collection, which Gorey left to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art upon his death, is diverse in style, subject, and media, and includes prints by Eugène Delacroix, Charles Meryon, Edvard Munch, and Odilon Redon; photographs by Eugène Atget; and drawings by Balthus, Pierre Bonnard, Charles Burchfield, Bill Traylor, and Édouard Vuillard. …these artistic pieces present a visual riddle, as the connections between them – to each other and to Gorey's works – are significant and enigmatic. The essays in Gorey's Worlds also examine the artist's consuming passions for animals and ballet.” – from Gorey's Worlds

And there's still time to see Gorey’s Worlds at Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main St., Hartford, CT – special exhibit (more quotes, plus insight into his life and work) ongoing until Sunday, May 6. Admission. The exhibition will then travel to Tacoma Art Museum to be displayed June 23 to Sept. 30, 2018.

“I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am.” – Edward Gorey

For those seeking inspiration, a place to walk, bike, stroll, enjoy – the Beach Utility Recreational Trail (BURT) is a paved trail nearly 3 miles offering a 12-foot-wide path at Hammonasset Beach State Park and it serves a dual purpose as under the pavement are upgraded “trunk lines or main lines of the utilities.”

Updates and full details of the project can be found at this link www.ct.gov/deep. The page includes details of the “Oak Lodge constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s at what was then Camp Roosevelt, the state’s first CCC camp” as well as news about Silver Sands (Milford) upgrades and boardwalk.

“Three new buildings will be constructed on the site. The bathhouse complex will be constructed near the beach and consist of three buildings constructed on an elevated deck…includes:
A concession building, restrooms, an office. A new boardwalk will connect the existing beach boardwalk to the bath house and a short new boardwalk across the tidal wetlands will connect the existing main boardwalk to the new bath house. … Construction of the project is anticipated to begin in 2018. The construction phase will take about one year to complete.”

For a stellar day trip tour – recommended – Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford, CT. The former home of author Harriet Beecher Stowe is now a museum and research center, part of the Nook Farm authors and literary greats community that once was.

From the official web site: “When you visit the Stowe Center, don’t expect a traditional historic house museum! Expect a conversational, interactive tour where you can participate along with your guide. Of course you’ll hear about everything that compelled Stowe to write her most famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin: her childhood, travels, marriage and family, and perhaps greatest of all, her courage. But you’ll also connect the past to the present as you discuss 19th century social issues — such as slavery and the role of women — that still resonate today in the form of racism, mass incarceration, immigration or equal pay.”

Hartford is chockfull of history, notable people, architecture, and sights to see. One tip – ask the staff about food recommendations, independent eateries, other less-well-known places nearby to extend your daytrip.

The Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, play in the Dunkin Donuts Park smack dab in the center of the city. Mascots (colorful goats) are known as Chompers and Chew Chew. For special promotions and a schedule, here's the link to the official site.

Also noteworthy: The Hartford Yard Goats Foundation is a Connecticut-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing social, educational and scholarship opportunities for the youth in our surrounding communities in connection with the activities of the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club.

And a special opportunity for veterans and active duty military personnel – spend a week doing hands-on archaeology at an Archaeology Field School sponsored by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Office of State Archaeology at a historic site in Windsor, Connecticut, led by Dr. Brian Jones, state archaeologist. Space is limited, advance registration required – free for vets and active-duty military.

To request a registration form, contact David Colberg at david.colberg@uconn.edu or call (860) 486.5690. Dates are Monday, July 23 through Friday, July 27.

Last but not least – a reminder that submissions to the 1st Annual Mystic Film Festival are now open.

The Mystic Film Festival Jury will recognize the top films in competition; Best Narrative Feature, Best Feature Documentary, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best International Narrative Feature, Best International Feature Documentary, Best International Narrative Short, Best International Documentary Short, Best New Director, Best New England Film, and Audience Choice Award.

Deadline is July 16, 2018.

For questions, reach out to the event programming team at shareen@mysticfilmfestival.com. The first-ever Mystic Film Festival will happen Oct. 18 to Oct. 21, 2018, a showcase for independent feature-length and short form narrative films and documentaries from all over the world.