Celebrate summer with the largest Summer Festival Bethel has ever experienced.   The Square will be filled with vendors, activities for the kids, and music. This is a shopping, dining, and playing experience you won’t want to miss.

• Vendors/Crafters/Food and Sidewalk Sales will take place along Greenwood Ave all weekend long.
• Beer Fest highlighting the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them-Friday 6pm-8:30pm
• Voice of Bethel and Live Music on the Lawn of the Library all day Saturday.
• Touch a Truck on the Lawn of the Municipal Center – Saturday.

Visit www.bethelsummerfest.com for complete details on the event or call the office at 203-743-6500. 

Located on the front lawn of the Municipal Center at 1 School Street, this market will run every Thursday now through September. There are different activities and events planned for each week. Join in on the fun and show your support of shopping locally! 

Many of last year’s food vendors will be returning as well as some new vendors.  There will be food, desserts, farm fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats as well as crafts, gifts, books, and children’s activities!

Click here to view a list of vendors.

Open House Day provides a unique opportunity for residents to explore some of Connecticut’s still revolutionary destinations and attractions at a discount rate or even for free. Residents can visit inspiring destinations across the state from the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, the Glass House in New Canaan, the Essex Steam Train, Mystic Aquarium, to the Thomas Lee House in Niantic - Connecticut’s recently voted still revolutionary Town of the Year.

Below is a listing of  some nearby events by town.  For a full list of events across the state, click here.

Bethel

Bethel Historical Society
40 Main St.
Bethel, CT
(203) 794-1050
Listen to the tales with a guided tour of the town’s historic Center Cemetery, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The museum will be open 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Bridgeport

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Ave.
Bridgeport, CT
(203) 394-6565
Free admission for the first 100 visitors from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Discovery Museum
4450 Park Ave.
Bridgeport, CT
(203) 372-3521
From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors receive half price off general admission.

Danbury

Gallery at Still River Editions
128 East Liberty St.
Danbury, CT
(203) 791-1474
From noon until 5 p.m. is the opening reception for Nearly Forgotten, an exhibit of photographs by Catherine Vanaria of hats from the Danbury Museum & Historical Society’s collection. At 3 p.m., there will an artist talk and presentation. Light refreshments served.

YMCA ESCAPE to the Arts
293 Main St.
Danbury, CT
(203) 794-1413
From noon until 4 p.m., view the exhibition Destination Connecticut (June 10-July 19), showcasing a variety of works depicting destinations landmarks and imagery in Connecticut. Artists will also be demonstrating their skills and children can make a craft.

New Milford

New Milford Historical Society Museum
6 Aspetuck Ave.
New Milford, CT
(860) 354-3069
Free admission from noon until 3 p.m.

Ridgefield

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
258 Main St.
Ridgefield, CT
(203) 438-4519
Free admission from noon until 5 p.m. Activities include opening of Legacy: Photographs from the Emily Fisher Landau Collection, docent-led tours, and lunch provided from one of the finest food trucks.

Keeler Tavern Museum
132 Main St.
Ridgefield, CT
(203) 438-5485
Open from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. offering a special two for one discount. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.

Suzanne Benton Studio & Art Showcase
22 Donnelly Dr.
Ridgefield, CT
(203) 438-4650
Open artist studio from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., showing a slide show: My Life with Masks and providing complimentary invitation cards and one catalog.

For a complete list of participating venues updated daily go to www.CTvisit.com.  More information, photos and news related to Open House can also be found on the Visit Connecticut Facebook page, @CTvisit Twitter channel or VisitCT Pinterest page.

The carnival returns to the front lawn of the Bethel Municipal Center this year. Rides, games, great food, Raffle, safe family fun, and a community atmosphere await all on Bethel’s Memorial Day Parade weekend! 

Hours:
Wed – Fri 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm – 10:00pm
*Sunday 12:00pm – 2:00pm
*Sunday 4:00pm – 8:00pm

*Carnival will close from 2pm-4pm for the Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Service on the front lawn

Raffle prizes:  1st Place = $5,000, 2nd Place = $1,000, and 3rd Place = $500! 

For more info, visit http://www.stmarybethelct.org/ or call 203-744-2922.

Rizzuto’s, Bethel
10:30am-3pm
Adults $29.95; Children 5-12 $15.95; Children 5 and under are FREE
Brunch includes a glass of Prosecco, Bellini, Mimosa or Bloody Mary and coffee or tea
Moms receive a $15 gift card for your next visit
203-790-4444 

Maggie McFly’s, Brookfield
10am-3pm
203-775-7960

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Danbury
Adults $38; Children 5-12 $17
Reservations required for 11am and 2pm seatings
203-794-0600

Molly Darcy’s, Danbury
Taking Reservations
203-794-0449 

The Inn at Newtown, Newtown
11am-3pm
$24.95 per person
203-270-1876 

1st and 10 Sports Bar and Grill, New Milford
10am-1pm
860-354-1800

Running February 24th-March 3th, all participating restaurants will offer special prices and menus for lunch and dinner. While dining throughout the week you can make donations to the Sandy Hook Community and enter to win prizes for Gift Certificates and Danbury Whalers Hockey Tickets.

Participating Restaurants Include:

Stella Restaurant and Bar – 213 Greenwood Ave
Lunch Special – $10 or $15 prixe fix menu  (includes appetizer, entree, tiramisu and coffee)
Dinner Special – $30 prix fixe menu (includes appetizer, salad, entree, tiramisu, coffee and glass of house wine)
Click here for menu

Daily Fare – 13 Durant Ave 
Free Coffee or Scone with any lunch purchase

Sycamore Drive In Restaurant – 282 Greenwood Ave
10% off total bill

Sal’z Pizza – 211 Greenwood Ave.
Dine in only: House Salad, Fountain Sodas, Medium 1 Topping Pizza, House Made Cannoli or NY Style Cheesecake $19.99
Take Out 2 Large Cheese Pizzas for only $21.99

Greenwoods Grille and Ale House – 186 Greenwood Ave

O’neills Sandwich and Coffee Bar – 114 Greenwood Ave

LaZingara Restaurant – 8 PT Barnum Sq

Lebanese Cuisine – 23 Stony Hill Rd

LaFortuna Restaurant – 37 Stony Hill Rd
$14.99 per person lunch and dinner – Appetizer and Entree
Click here for menu

Putnam House Restaurant – 12 Depot Place

Rizzuto’s- 37 Stony Hill Road
$15 Prix-Fixe Lunch
$30 Prix-Fixe Dinner
Click here for the menu

Famous Pizza – 1 P.T. Barnum Sq.

In our house, we are a mishmash of fans. I am Chicago loyal (even though I don’t really care about sports much), the hubs is a Chargers fan, our oldest loves the Panthers, and our little one roots for the Jets. If you are like us, you may feel that without your team on the field, the enthusiasm is just not the same. Well, at least for the game it’s not…

We still have the commercials! Widely known as the most expensive, sought after spots in advertising, each year all of the companies go the extra mile to entertain us. Releasing their Super Bowl ads prior to the big game used to be unheard of, but today with social media it is now the norm!

Below are a handful of the best rated commercials and  teasers according to superbowl-commercials.org. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Have a favorite? Comment below…let’s see which one is the winner!

“Man vs Cheetah” (Skechers)

Getaway (Gildan)

“YourBigIdea.CO” Featuring a Sky Waitress and Danica Patrick (godaddy.com)

“Wish Granted” Starring Kaley Cuoco (Toyota)

“Viva Young” (Taco Bell)

Good luck to both teams! And as always, if you are heading out or ordering in, please remember to support our local establishments!  

This year’s Take Your Child to the Library Day will be held on February 2nd, and several of our local libraries are participating!  See below for a list of libraries and events:

Bethel Public Library

For Kids of all ages.** Children 7 years old and under must be with an adult during the program. Parents and guardians of all children attending the program must remain in the building.

Bring your child to the Library on this Saturday to see what the Children’s Library has to offer in books, CD’s DVD’s and other materials and programs. Guest celebrity readers from the Bethel community will be reading classic and well known Children’s book titles on the hour beginning at 11:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm. Drop-ins are welcome but registration to listen to guest readers is recommended. Register at the Children’s Services Desk or by calling 203-794-8756, Ex. 5.

Brookfield Public Library

Calling all Dads, Grandads, Uncles and others!  You are invited to share some quality time, and delicious doughnuts, with the important children in your life at The Brookfield Library for our Doughnuts for Dads storytime.  Between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. we will share books, stories and more in our Community Room. No registration is required.

Danbury Public Library

Award winning musician, Laura Doherty will entertain children at 1:00 pm. Come enjoy this free kids event from 1pm-1:50pm. Giveaways for kids.

Newtown (C.H. Booth Library)

Enjoy a variety of fun filled activites throughout the day:

Meet SuperStar Bocker the Labradoodle:  11 am and 12 noon.
Bocker has made TV commercials and movies, but what he loves most is reading.
Hear Bockers story:  “Chasing Bocker’s Tale” and learn about his exciting life. Register here for 11 am. Register here for 12 pm.

Twisted Tales:  Balloon Fun and Silly Stories:  1:00 pm. Margie and Ellen are Newtown residents who love to make children laugh.  Balloon creations are matched with silly stories.  Everyone leaves with a balloon animal.  For ages 4-7. Please sign up here.

Sciencetellers:  Dragons & Dreams:  3:30 pm. Sciencetellers combine science with a tale about dragons and dreams using flash paper, exploding bottles, dry ice and more.   For ages 4 and up. Register here.

Ridgefield Public Library

10:30am-11am: Children ages 3 and up are invited for stories, songs and a short book-based film. No Registration.

10:30am-11:15am: The Woodcock Nature Center will visit the library for drop-in storytime. Children ages 3 and older are invited to hear stories and learn about hibernating creatures.

Contact Marybeth Rassulo at 203-438-2282 or email children@ridgefieldlibrary.org for more info.

The organization and program was founded in memory of their friends’ daughter, Charlotte Bacon, a victim in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. It was established to support the Newtown community and encourage kids from around the world to engage in acts of kindness. 

“We believe that every act of kindness will honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy while creating more compassionate children around the globe,” said Newtown Kindness founder Aaron Carlson. “Charlotte was known for her daily acts of kindness. In her life, no kind deed was too small, and we want that message spread and honored in her name.” 

Newtown Kindness will focus its efforts around the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards. This initiative will encourage children from around the world to think about and perform simple acts of kindness. The children are also encouraged to tell their act of kindness story in writing or by drawing a picture for a chance to be recognized with a Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award.

Award winners will be chosen by a committee made up of Newtown residents, including the Carlson and Bacon families. The first annual awards will be announced on February 22, 2013, which is Charlotte’s birthday.

“My family has very much appreciated the many on-going and amazing acts of kindness, encouragement, love, support, and generosity we have received in so many different ways during these recent and most difficult days,” says Charlotte’s father Joel Bacon. “We have heard from so many friends, old and new, neighbors, community members, and even strangers from around the world. It is our hope to continue this mission to encourage others to be kind to others and spread love and hope to one another. The habits of good deeds, especially developed in children, will have an immensely powerful and positive influence in our future generations.”

“This campaign provides a gentle way for this tragic experience to have a positive influence on our children — teaching them a valuable life skill,” adds Carlson. “We understand that there are many levels of comprehension by our children, from those directly affected by this tragedy to those not aware of the situation at all. We believe that our program is an appropriate option for parents to decide at what level they would like their children to comprehend this tragedy, while having some fun.”

Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards information:

• Anyone the age of 18 and under is eligible.
• Entries preferred, but not restricted, from ages 18 and under.
• Entries are open to children in any location, and not restricted to Newtown.  
• Entries must include name, age, contact information, and must received by February 21, 2013
• There is a suggested donation of $5.00 per entry, which will go to the Charlotte Bacon Kindness Fund (c/o Wells Fargo). Profits will be directed to a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports the Newtown Community in honor of Charlotte Bacon.
• The winners will be announced on February 22, 2013 on Charlotte’s Birthday
• Entries can be sent by mail (Charlotte Bacon Kindness Fund, 2 Old Farm Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470) or email Newtownkindness@yahoo.com

For more on how to enter, and updated news on Newtown Kindness, visit: www.newtownkindness.org or www.facebook.com/NewtownKindness.org.