Ridgefield Summer Sidewalk Stroll 2020 Brings Shopping Outside
Starting July 1st!

Shops all around town are “Bringing it Outside” this summer, as the Ridgefield Summer Sidewalk Stroll launches on July 1st. During this summer-long event, which will run through September 7th, our wonderful local shops are extending shopping to the sidewalks. Enjoy the summer weather and check out all that Ridgefield has to offer – al fresco! Town-wide sidewalk shopping is a great way for us all to get back outside to enjoy our beautiful town, while adhering to safety and social distancing guidelines.

Another component of the summer-long event will help local nonprofit organizations who have dealt with hardships due to the pandemic. Each business can ‘adopt’ an organization in town to help promote their missions. Businesses can share pamphlets and information about their ‘adopted’ nonprofit to create exposure for our amazing arts, cultural, and other nonprofit organizations in Ridgefield.

Ultimately, the goal is that over the course of the summer, the Summer Sidewalk Stroll can expand to include special outdoor events from the town’s arts and cultural organizations. We will be announcing additional summer events as they are planned. So check back here for the latest details!

Along with Ridgefield’s many outdoor dining options, the Summer Sidewalk Stroll will provide a fun outdoor experience for our community and visitors alike.

We’ll see you at the Stroll!

Important Note:
When enjoying this event, please adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear your facemask, for the safety of everyone.

For Business Information, go to: inridgefield.com/summer-stroll/

“Western Stars” is a cinematic film version of Bruce Springsteen’s latest globally successful album of the same name. Springsteen’s longtime collaborator Thom Zimny directed the film together with Springsteen, marking Springsteen’s directorial debut. The film “Western Stars” offers fans the world over their only opportunity to see Springsteen perform all 13 songs on the album, backed up by a band and a full orchestra, under the cathedral ceiling of his historic nearly 100-year-old barn. Springsteen’s first studio album in five years, Western Stars marks a departure for the legendary singer/songwriter while still drawing on his roots. Touching on themes of love and loss, loneliness and family and the inexorable passage of time, the documentary film evokes the American West–both the mythic and the hardscrabble–weaving archival footage and Springsteen’s personal narration with song to tell the story.

Rated PG
Run time 1 hour, 23 minutes *See websited for COVID-19 guidelines

July 4, 2020
FREE Admission

This year’s July 4^th celebrations will be different, but no less patriotic.

Join us for a virtual celebration from the safety and comfort of your home and enjoy:

• A dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by the ceremonial slicing of a watermelon with Don Daughters and Mark Blanford outside the historic Keeler Tavern. This video will premiere LIVE.
• Watch Patty Linnon, Cheryl Crowl, and Carol prepare an old-fashioned picnic and learn how to make such delectable dishes as corn pone, watermelon pickles, apple pandowdy, and a special roast pork!
• Flag Etiquette – hear Hilary Micalizzi tell you about the history of the Stars & Stripes and how to make a special flag craft.
• Listen to the Angry O’Haras play some favorite Bluegrass tunes.
• Watch a video about flag retirement with the Marines Corps, and
• Enjoy a slideshow of past July 4^th celebrations at KTM&HC

Check back for links to this free, family-friendly virtual entertainment. 

SATURDAY SHOP RUNS ARE BACK!

Join us Saturday mornings at 7am for RRC’s Saturday Shop Run. Held rain or shine, but freezing rain, sleet, or bad road conditions cancel. Please always check FB on Fridays to view distance and route. Run is all paces, free and at your own risk.

NEW COVID GUIDELINES:
*Pre- and post-run gatherings are outside only.
*Wear a mask for all pre- and post- run gatherings. You do not have to wear the mask while running.
*BYO hydration and fuel. RRC will not be providing water.
*Please try to limit restroom use and go at your home before you arrive (we have to clean after every person).
*We will try to send out groups of 5 maximum at one time.

In the mid 1960s, suburban New York teenager Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) enlists in the Marines, fulfilling what he sees as his patriotic duty. During his second tour in Vietnam, he accidentally kills a fellow soldier during a retreat and later becomes permanently paralyzed in battle. Returning home to an uncaring Veterans Administration bureaucracy and to people on both sides of the political divide who don’t understand what he went through, Kovic becomes an impassioned critic of the war.

Rated R
Run time 2 hours, 25 minutes *See website for COVID-19 guidelines

ENCORE PRESENTATION IN HD

Phelim McDermott, whose productions include the hugely successful Satyagraha by Philip Glass, returns to the Met with a new staging of Glass’s Akhnaten, conducted by Karen Kamensek in her Met debut. Anthony Roth Costanzo sings the title role of the Egyptian pharaoh who attempted to inspire his people to adopt a new religion, abandoning the worship of the old gods for that of a single deity. In her Met debut, J’Nai Bridges sings the role of Nefertiti, Akhnaten’s bride, and Dísella Lárusdóttir is Queen Tye, the pharaoh’s mother. One of the staging’s distinctive visual features is provided by the Gandini Juggling Company, whose movements are perfectly choreographed with the orchestral score. This production of Akhnaten was originally created by LA Opera, Improbable, and English National Opera, where it premiered, winning the 2017 Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production.

Approx. runtime: 3:56

Free; Families with children of all ages
Space is limited; Register at shop.aldrichart.org

Monday, July 6, 2020
10:00 AM 10:45 AM

Join Aldrich Educator Susie Buckley over live video chat for our first session of this weekly series, centered around mindfulness! In this session, Secret Acts of Kindness, we’ll explore what it means to share selfless compassion for others through guided, simple breathing exercises, light stretching, and a reflective activity to consider for the rest of the week.

Free; Encouraged for young writers ages 8-13
Space is limited; Register at shop.aldrichart.org

In this session of our weekly workshop, Let’s Grow Some Poems!, young writers will join Aldrich Educator Barb Jennes (Ridgefield’s new Poet Laureate) over live video chat to explore a range of poetic tools, such as metaphor, simile, and anaphora, while crafting powerful poems inspired by our Pollinator Pathway. No previous poetry-writing experience necessary—just a love of words and fun!

$10; Free for members
Register at shop.aldrichart.org

Tuesday, July 7, 2020
6:30 PM 7:30 PM

Please join artist, educator and the Museum’s Head of Exhibitions and Facilities Chris Manning for an artist talk. Chris works with Polaroid film and will delve into his own practice as an artist, as well as offer insights into his role at The Aldrich meticulously helping exhibiting artists to realize their visions through the installation process. This program talk coincides with In an Instant: Polaroids for The Aldrich, a fundraiser offering unique Polaroid works created by Aldrich alumni artists to support the Museum during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 CHIRP SEASON
Begins July 7, in Ballard Park at 7p.m. Pre-registration will be required, as will masks for all attendees.

Our first concert will feature the Essential Bumper Jacksons, (i.e. its lead vocalist, Jesse and her husband who will perform as a duo). July 14, will bring back Eileen Ivers, July 21 we will for the first time present the legendary The Klezmatics The rest of the season will be posted as we go. Rain dates for these three events will be the Thursday of their week.

Help bring FREE concerts to Everyone! Please Donate

If you have not already liked us on Facebook please do so for the most up-to-date information: https://www.facebook.com/ChirpCT/

Parking has become a big concern so please adhere to following:
Passengers & Coolers may be dropped off at the CVS entrance to Ballard Park. From there, please follow the directions on the signs and of the parking enforcement personnel to locate parking. Please be considerate and do not park in front of open restaurants anywhere in town unless you are also eating there.

SHOWTIMES AT 2pm and 7pm

Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a Norse teenager from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. His progressive views and weird sense of humor make him a misfit, despite the fact that his father (Gerard Butler) is chief of the clan. Tossed into dragon-fighting school, he endeavors to prove himself as a true Viking, but when he befriends an injured dragon he names Toothless, he has the chance to plot a new course for his people’s future.

Rated PG
Run time 1 hour, 38 minutes

by William Shakespeare
Directed by Lyndsey Turner

Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock, Doctor Strange) plays the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy. Now seen by over 900,000 people worldwide, the original broadcast returns to our big screen. As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state. *See website for COVID-19 guidelines

Free; All ages welcome
Space is limited; Register at shop.aldrichart.org
Take a field trip to The Aldrich from the comfort of your home! Join Aldrich Educators for an interactive family tour exploring key works of art from our current exhibitions that highlight how artists and curators can act as storytellers. Our tour will culminate with a series of suggested art-making activities to further enrich your family’s in-home learning, perfect for a Friday afternoon!

Winner: HBO Audience Award / Best Documentary Feature
Provincetown Film Festival 2019
LINDA RONSTADT: The Sound of My Voice is a musical biography of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century – and one of the most successful recording artists of all time. At the height of unprecedented success, Ronstadt, a restless and adventurous artist, turned away from pop music to explore an astonishing variety of musical styles, from American standards to country to classical operetta before circling back to her family roots with traditional Mexican canciones. Withstanding constant pressure from a risk-averse industry, Linda insisted on following her musical instincts. Today Ronstadt has Parkinson’s disease and her magnificent singing voice has been silenced. But rather than letting that voice be lost to history, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice tells Linda’s story through her own words and music, and by such professional colleagues as Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Aaron Neville among many others.

Rated PG-13
Run Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

See the songs of Linda Ronstadt performed live on The Playhouse stage on February 20, 2021 by Tony Award nominee Ann Hampton Callaway in her show The Linda Ronstadt Songbook. Click here for more info.

SATURDAY SHOP RUNS ARE BACK!

Join us Saturday mornings at 7am for RRC’s Saturday Shop Run. Held rain or shine, but freezing rain, sleet, or bad road conditions cancel. Please always check FB on Fridays to view distance and route. Run is all paces, free and at your own risk.

NEW COVID GUIDELINES:
*Pre- and post-run gatherings are outside only.
*Wear a mask for all pre- and post- run gatherings. You do not have to wear the mask while running.
*BYO hydration and fuel. RRC will not be providing water.
*Please try to limit restroom use and go at your home before you arrive (we have to clean after every person).
*We will try to send out groups of 5 maximum at one time.

Renew your vows on Saturday, July 11 with comedian Christine O’Leary  at ‘I DO! Drive Thru Renew,’ a fast and fabulous fundraiser for Lounsbury House!

Reignite your love from the Lounsbury House balcony as you and your honey are chauffeured thru four fun ‘stations’ by Pamby Motors – and it all takes place in under 30 minutes outside (safely & at a distance) from the back seat of a beautiful jeep!

Let your family & friends cheer you on along with music courtesy of Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and a keepsake photo from Jane LaMotta Photography.

Sign up below and let the party begin!

Reservations are required and space is limited.

Rain date – July 12

REGISTER HERE!

Join RPAC Gallery’s ‘In the Window Series’ Resident Artist, Charles Gulbrandsen, on Saturday, July 11th from 12:30pm-5pm. You will be able to witness art in the making and watch with your own eyes how a blank canvas comes alive!

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Directed by Vicky Jones

★★★★★
‘Witty, filthy and supreme.’ Guardian

See the hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show that inspired the BBC’s hit TV seriesFleabag, broadcast live to cinemas from London’s West End.

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life.

Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.

Playing to sold-out audiences in New York and London, don’t miss your chance to see this ‘legitimately hilarious show’ (New Yorker), broadcast live to a cinema near you.

Presented by DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre

Show image by Jason Hetherington

2020 CHIRP SEASON
Begins July 7, in Ballard Park at 7p.m. Pre-registration will be required, as will masks for all attendees.

Our first concert will feature the Essential Bumper Jacksons, (i.e. its lead vocalist, Jesse and her husband who will perform as a duo). July 14, will bring back Eileen Ivers, July 21 we will for the first time present the legendary The Klezmatics The rest of the season will be posted as we go. Rain dates for these three events will be the Thursday of their week.

Help bring FREE concerts to Everyone! Please Donate

If you have not already liked us on Facebook please do so for the most up-to-date information: https://www.facebook.com/ChirpCT/

Parking has become a big concern so please adhere to following:
Passengers & Coolers may be dropped off at the CVS entrance to Ballard Park. From there, please follow the directions on the signs and of the parking enforcement personnel to locate parking. Please be considerate and do not park in front of open restaurants anywhere in town unless you are also eating there.

2pm and 7pm

In this animated feature, canine casino owner Charlie (Burt Reynolds) is killed by gambler Carface (Vic Tayback), but returns to Earth from heaven thanks to the powers of a magical, rewindable watch. Charlie sets out to take his revenge on Carface by means of an elaborate plan that involves an orphan girl, Anne-Marie. But as the plan progresses, Charlie discovers that Anne-Marie is being exploited by Carface. Charlie must decide whether to change his mission from one of revenge to one of rescue.

Rated G
Run time 1 hour, 24 minutes *See website for COVID-19 guidelines

At the height of his internationally renowned career, a sudden blow to the head robs the famously sensual rock star of his most cherished senses. A series of personal battles follows, ending tragically with his death at the age of 37, the night before embarking on a world tour. Written and Directed by Richard Lowenstein, this documentary is a powerfully intimate and insightful portrait of the internationally renowned INXS frontman. Deftly woven from an extraordinary archive of rich imagery, Michael’s private home movies and those of his lovers, friends, and family, the film delves beneath the public persona of the charismatic ‘Rock God’ and transports us through the looking glass to reveal a multifaceted, intensely sensitive and complex man. Features interviews with Kylie Minogue, Bono, and many more.

Rating NR
Run time 1 hour, 42 minutes *see website for COVID-19 guidelines

With all of us at home these days, we thought we would turn our annual quirky exhibit inside out by highlighting what’s happening at home. Show us what “bedlam at home” looks like these days for you.

View the Exhibit here!

SATURDAY SHOP RUNS ARE BACK!

Join us Saturday mornings at 7am for RRC’s Saturday Shop Run. Held rain or shine, but freezing rain, sleet, or bad road conditions cancel. Please always check FB on Fridays to view distance and route. Run is all paces, free and at your own risk.

NEW COVID GUIDELINES:
*Pre- and post-run gatherings are outside only.
*Wear a mask for all pre- and post- run gatherings. You do not have to wear the mask while running.
*BYO hydration and fuel. RRC will not be providing water.
*Please try to limit restroom use and go at your home before you arrive (we have to clean after every person).
*We will try to send out groups of 5 maximum at one time.

By Experience Theater on Film

Come and meet those dancing feet! Known as a song and dance extravaganza, 42^nd Street is the Broadway musical about making a Broadway musical, complete with a score by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin – with Broadway standards “Lullaby of Broadway”, “We’re in the Money” “Dames”, “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and, of course, the title song. One of Broadway’s most classic and beloved tales, 42^ND Street comes to our big screen in the largest-ever production of the breathtaking musical. Filmed in 2018 at London’s Theatre Royal the production is directed by the original author of the show, the late Mark Bramble. This eye-watering extravaganza is full of crowd-pleasing tap dances, popular musical theatre standards and show-stopping ensemble production numbers.

One of the most memorable romantic films ever and winner of two Academy Awards®, Sam (Patrick Swayze), living as a ghost, discovers his death wasn’t just a random robbery gone bad. To help him reconnect with the love of his life, Molly (Demi Moore), and solve his own murder, he enlists the talents of a skeptical psychic (Oscar®-winner Whoopi Goldberg), who doesn’t even believe her own abilities. Ghost is a supernatural mystery-thriller that will cross over into your heart and never leave. Ghost will surprise you, delight you, make you believe.

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of this timeless romantic classic at a special event that includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies.

2020 CHIRP SEASON
Begins July 7, in Ballard Park at 7p.m. Pre-registration will be required, as will masks for all attendees.

Our first concert will feature the Essential Bumper Jacksons, (i.e. its lead vocalist, Jesse and her husband who will perform as a duo). July 14, will bring back Eileen Ivers, July 21 we will for the first time present the legendary The Klezmatics.

The rest of the season will be posted as we go. Rain dates for these three events will be the Thursday of their week.

Help bring FREE concerts to Everyone! Please Donate

If you have not already liked us on Facebook please do so for the most up-to-date information: https://www.facebook.com/ChirpCT/

Parking has become a big concern so please adhere to following:
Passengers & Coolers may be dropped off at the CVS entrance to Ballard Park. From there, please follow the directions on the signs and of the parking enforcement personnel to locate parking. Please be considerate and do not park in front of open restaurants anywhere in town unless you are also eating there.

In this animated retelling of the Book of Exodus, Egyptian Prince Moses (Val Kilmer), upon discovering his roots as a Jewish slave, embarks on a quest to free his people from bondage. When his plea is denied by his brother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes), the new pharaoh, a series of horrific plagues strike Egypt. Moses finally leads the Israelites to freedom by parting the Red Sea and drowning the Egyptian army. God then gives Moses the Ten Commandments, a list of rules for his people to live by.

Rated PG
Run time 1 hour, 39 minutes *See website for COVID-19 guidelines

Frida – Viva La Vida is a cinematic documentary event film that highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit: a revolutionary pioneering artist of contemporary feminism, and on the other, a human being tormented by agony and love.

With Asia Argento as narrator, the two faces of the artist will be revealed, by pursuing a common thread consisting of Frida’s own words: letters, diaries and private confessions. The documentary film event will alternate interviews with historical documents, captivating reconstructions and Frida Kahlo’s own paintings, kept in some of the most amazing museums in Mexico. *See website for COVID-19 guidelines

It’s beautiful outside, the sun is shining, the temperatures are warm, and everything is blooming, perfect time to go out and paint, draw, take pictures! Even if you don’t work outdoors, be inspired by what you see and bring it back into the studio. 

Work in painting, drawing or photography is welcome.

SATURDAY SHOP RUNS ARE BACK!

Join us Saturday mornings at 7am for RRC’s Saturday Shop Run. Held rain or shine, but freezing rain, sleet, or bad road conditions cancel. Please always check FB on Fridays to view distance and route. Run is all paces, free and at your own risk.

NEW COVID GUIDELINES:
*Pre- and post-run gatherings are outside only.
*Wear a mask for all pre- and post- run gatherings. You do not have to wear the mask while running.
*BYO hydration and fuel. RRC will not be providing water.
*Please try to limit restroom use and go at your home before you arrive (we have to clean after every person).
*We will try to send out groups of 5 maximum at one time.

You may remember Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon as the 2019 “American Idol” finalist whose incredible vocal range and emotional backstory grabbed the judges attention and elicited comparisons to the likes of Jeff Buckley, Freddie Mercury and Billy Joel.  Now see Jeremiah live- performing his original songs, including his most recent single release “Almost Heaven” which gained him national attention. Since his time on “American Idol,” Jeremiah has shared the stage with Dear Even Hansen star Ben Platt, among others, and his talents caught the eye of actor/director/producer Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, Chambers) and his wife production designer Jane Musky (When Harry Met Sally, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hustlers).  They, along with longtime activists and philanthropists Frank Selvaggi and Bill Shea  (Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Freedom to Marry, Autism Speaks), have championed his career and we gratefully acknowledge their support of this performance.

The night kicks off with award winning standup comedian Christine O’Leary who was recently named by Curve Magazine as one of the “50 Funniest Lesbians in America.” O’Leary has worked with top comedians in the business, including Gilbert Gottfried, Joy Behar, Susie Essman, Chevy Chase, Sinbad, Tracy Morgan, Janeane Garofalo, Margaret Cho and more. In addition to performing, O’Leary teaches comedy classes, and is the Host/Announcer/Comedy Series Artistic Director at The Ridgefield Playhouse!

The Bandsintown Emerging Artist Series identifies artists who are up and coming in the industry, and is meant to introduce patrons to the fresh faces turning the industry upside down. Bandsintown is one of the most trusted sources for concert discovery and, like The Playhouse, is committed to helping emerging artists of all kinds grow their careers and connect with an audience of passionate music fans.  Whether you’re a fan of Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon and Christine O’Leary, or you just want to see the “next big thing,” don’t miss this fun outdoor concert!

ENCORE PRESENTATION IN HD

ADOPHE ADAM
Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky

The young peasant girl Giselle dies of a broken heart when she learns that the man she loves, Albrecht, has betrayed her. Against her own will, she joins the Wilis, vengeful spirits of jilted brides who condemn Albrecht to dance until he dies of exhaustion. In this brand-new production of Giselle, world renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky brings a fresh perspective to one of the oldest and greatest works of classical dance, giving the audience an opportunity to discover this iconic ballet anew.

Run time: 150 minutes

Comedy icons John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in the outrageously funny musical comedy The Blues Brothers. After the release of Jake Blues (Belushi) from prison, he and brother Elwood (Aykroyd) take their blues band back on the road in an attempt to raise money for the orphanage where they were raised. Havoc ensues as the brothers seek redemption on their “mission from God”. Directed by John Landis (National Lampoon’s Animal House), the soul-stirring comedy classic features musical performances by blues legends Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway.

Grab your sunglasses and a fedora for this special event that includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies.

Fathom Events Series
Cohen and Wolf P.C. Movie Series
Barts Tree Service Comedy Series
Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity

Working from home? Stand out on every Zoom call with “Speaking Fearlessly!”

Mondays, July 27 – August 17, 2020 from 7:30 – 9pm

Presenting in front of a group can be a difficult experience.  Whether for business or volunteer work, online or in-person, the ability to speak in public is a valuable life skill that can advance a career and fulfill leadership aspirations. Emmy Award-winning journalist, author and emcee Ira Joe Fisher offers a life-changing, new Zoom workshop, Speaking Fearlessly, featuring career-affirmed strategies – not tricks – for effective speech, public speaking presentations and high-stakes conversations.  This virtual workshop will help you learn how to communicate effectively.  Students will get expert coaching to help you deliver your ideas effectively, comfortably and with confidence.  Ira will show you the ability to communicate effectively — for sales, for your job and for your family relationships — is something that each of us already possesses.

Scholarships available through the generosity of the Beth and Bruce Becker Scholarship Fund.
Register online or by calling the box office at 203.438.5795

2pm and 7pm

Based on the beloved children’s novel by E.B. White, a young girl named Fern (Dakota Fanning) rescues a runty piglet, raises it as her own and names him Wilbur. However, after Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay) grows into a pig, she is compelled to sell him to her Uncle Homer Zuckerman down the street. At Zuckerman’s barn, Wilbur meets a host of animals and later learns from them that come winter, he will be slaughtered for food. Fearing for his life, Charlotte (Julia Roberts), a gentle and wise spider whom befriended the lonely Wilbur, vows to save his life.

Rated G
Run time 1 hour, 37 minutes

Keep busy and stay connected with the Library while our building is closed.  Download an activity sheet for lots of fun ideas of things to do.  Complete 10 (or more!) of the activities, and bring your sheet back to the Library when we re-open for a special reward.

For the Kids:

Keep Connected Activity Sheet – Preschool

Keep Connected Activity Sheet – School Age

More ideas – STEAM activities for all ages!

Children’s Video Programs

Access digital materials with TumbleBook!

For Adults:

Online Tax Resources

Access digital movies, eBooks, and audiobooks with Hoopla, Overdrive, and RBdigital.

RPAC Art Center and Academy is open for in-person classes!

8-Week Summer Session: July 7 – August 27
No More than 4 students at a time. Instructors strictly observe social distancing.

Painting in Any Medium – Tuesday’s 2pm – 5pm
Drawing From Observation – Wednesday’s 12pm – 3pm
Illustration – Thursday’s 12pm – 3pm

For more information go to: rpacartcenter.com

Online Workshops at RPAC:

RPAC Art Center and Academy is also offering numerous virtual online workshops, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Painting. Our technology allows for real-time interaction and sharing. The class schedules vary, accommodating most schedules and taught by RPAC co-founder and Professor Greg Mursko. Details are available on our website: RPACworkshops.

For more information, please contact RPAC via email at  info@rpacartartcenter.com, or online at rpacgallery.com.

When an event has run strong for 46 years, cancellation does not come easily. Which is why RVNAhealth has moved our annual Wellness Fair online this year.

Below are links to important health screenings and information that will help you assess your current state of health.

Enjoy the screenings at your own pace and check back regularly for new additions. And, if you have any concerns about your results, be certain to contact your doctor to discuss. Many primary care providers are offering telehealth visits, which makes follow-up especially easy.

To see all Wellness Fair offerings, go to: rvnahealth.org/virtual-health-fair

Stories from the Studio

An inside look inside the artists studios during the pandemic. Artists share their stories on how they are inspired and what they are creating through answering a series of questions. Photos and videos are included to complete the story.

Click HERE to step inside the artist’s studio.

Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance (RCD) has announced that they are offering a series of virtual masterclasses to raise awareness, support, and donations to benefit BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Guest artists teach Latin Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Contemporary Master Classes.

Open to all dancers age 11+ in the community. The cost is $30/class and profits will be donated to the official campaign for justice.

Register at ridgefielddance.org.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center’s Education Department is working hard to provide activities and resources for learning at home. The following units are based on our popular school programs and will be updated weekly through the spring to add new content for at home use.

We are developing three sets of digital learning units:

1. Stories from Our Site uses the history of the historic house museum and the beautiful gardens as a window into three decades of the site’s history. This includes a unit using elements from our popular “Colonial Life” program.
2. National Connections uses local history to illuminate national events—The Battle of Ridgefield, the only inland battle in Connecticut during the American Revolution, is a core story here at the museum and our units will cover grades 4 through 12.
3. Our annual #HandsOnHistory exhibit has been redesigned to offer STEM & STEAM learning digitally.

Our school programs and online learning units support the C3 Frameworks for Social Studies, Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks, and Common Core Learning Standards. If you have any questions, please reach out by emailing education@keelertavernmuseum.org.

Take a look at the History @ Home offerings here!

ACT of Connecticut and Books On The Common have partnered to create a fun new online series focusing on storytelling for our younger friends. Presenting STORY TIME!

Each week, we are (virtually) bringing back an ACT of CT actor who has starred in one of our productions.  They will read a story specially curated by our friends at Books On The Common. This is a great way for kids to be introduced to some special new books while also providing a nice break for parents!

A new STORY TIME! episode will be released weekly and can be found on the ACT of CT Facebook video page!

We provide child centered educational content for children and their grown ups. This is a safe space for young children to practice yoga, make music and to fuel their innate curiosity with content created just for them. We celebrate childhood! Join us.

Watch We Grow Yoga on YouTube!

Registration Information

• You may register online or in person at the Guild where cash and credit cards are accepted.
• Classes are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.
• Tuition will be refunded if the class is cancelled or filled
• Classes not held due to inclement weather or the instructor’s absence will be rescheduled
• When the Ridgefield public schools are closed because of weather RGA is also closed. If the Ridgefield Schools announce a delayed opening, the classes at the Guild will start at their usual time.
  

SIGN UP FOR ONLINE ART CLASSES HERE!

Ridgefield Streams is a new website dedicated to Ridgefield’s incredible arts and cultural organizations by providing a mutually supported digital landing platform on which to inform the public about their work. Especially in times of social isolation, communities need to stay connected!

The arts are essential and Ridgefield has truly become an arts destination. We intend to keep it that way!

Visit ridgefieldstreams.org.

If you haven’t been to the Garden House for an event, be sure to read about its history at the 8th stop on the Gilberts in the Gardens Self-Guided Walking Tour. The house, designed by Cass Gilbert, has seen more parties than one could attend in a lifetime! Our site is otherwise closed, but you are welcome to take a walk so long as you adhere to all rules of social distancing promulgated by the CDCP, state, and local authorities.

Questions can be submitted by email to info@keelertavernmuseum.org or visit their Instagram at @keelertavernmuseum.

The 14th Annual Southwest Cafe Margarita 5K will be held virtually this year. The race will benefit Ridgefield’s Sunrise Cottage/Ability Beyond.

Runners will run a 5k (3.1 miles) anytime between July 31 – August 2nd, 2020. Participants will receive a tech T-shirt and a coupon for a free margarita from Southwest Cafe. You can even get friends and family that live in other areas to participate in the virtual race with you, for a “together-apart” experience.

Register here!

For more information go to the Athlete Guide by clicking here.

Echo In The Canyon celebrates the explosion of popular music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-60s as folk went electric and The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and The Mamas and the Papas gave birth to the California Sound.  It was a moment (1965 to 1967) when bands came to LA to emulate The Beatles and Laurel Canyon emerged as a hotbed of creativity and collaboration for a new generation of musicians who would soon put an indelible stamp on the history of American popular music.
Featuring Jakob Dylan, the film explores the beginnings of the Laurel Canyon music scene.  Dylan uncovers never-before-heard personal details behind the bands and their songs and how that music continues to inspire today.  Echo in the Canyon contains candid conversations and performances with Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Michelle Phillips, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn and Jackson Browne as well as contemporary musicians they influenced such as Tom Petty (in his very last film interview), Beck, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Regina Spektor and Norah Jones.

Rated PG-13
Run Time: 1 hour, 22 minutes

*RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH 27

Experience the hit songs of Meat Loaf performed by his official band, The Neverland Express, plus “American Idol” winner Caleb Johnson in a concert presented by Grammy Award winner Meat Loaf and produced by his musical director/guitarist/record producer Paul Crook! “Bat Out of Hell,” “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” “I Would Do Anything for Love” and more!

Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, Don McLean is among America’s most enduring singer-songwriters. Forever associated with his iconic hits “American Pie” – the 8.5-minute folk rock “cultural touchstone” about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation, and “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” McLean first hit the charts in 1971 and has amassed more than 40 gold and platinum records worldwide. In 2004 he was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

Returning for their 8th performance of side-splitting political satire, the members of Capitol Steps combine experience on the Hill with music, acting, improv and sheer comedic talent in an equal-opportunity skewering of modern day politics. The only group in America that attempts to be funnier than Congress, they never fail to find humor in the latest headlines, scandals and videos. Given today’s gridlock, a Capitol Steps show may be the only thing capable of winning bipartisan support!  Get your tickets early – this show always sells out!

Check out the BMW on display courtesy of BMW of Ridgefield

6 Weeks – Tuesdays, August 18 – September 22 | from 7 – 9 pm

Have weeks in quarantine woken up your creativity?

Are you done watching Netflix and other online streaming platforms and thinking to yourself, “I can do that!” Is there a movie idea tucked away in your head that you’ve always wanted to write? Well, right now is the perfect time to write that screenplay. Once Hollywood reopens in the next few months, it will need original content. In this 6-week screenwriting zoom course you will learn how to turn your story idea into a well-told, formatted screenplay that you can sell to Hollywood. Students will learn the basics of screenwriting, storytelling, story structure, script format, theme, plot, characterization, dialogue and conflict. You will flesh out your story idea into a well-mapped out screenplay and walk away with the tools and confidence to write the movie you’ve always wanted to write. Come play with us, it’ll be fun!

Scholarships available through the generosity of the Beth and Bruce Becker Scholarship Fund.
Register online or by calling the box office at 203.438.5795

Classes @ The Playhouse Series
Adam Broderick Salon & Spa Whole New You Series with support from Reliance Merchant Services

Eddie Montgomery carries on the legacy of the world famous country music duo, after Troy Gentry’s passing in 2017.  With 20 plus charted singles, the Kentucky native has earned CMA, ACM, and GRAMMY awards and nominations with undeniable blue collar anthems like “Hell Yeah,” “My Town,” and “Hillbilly Shoes.” He’s also notched five No. 1 singles, “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” and “Roll With Me.” He was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member with Montgomery Gentry in 2009 and was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame with the duo in 2015. Montgomery recently released Outskirts, a seven-song EP.

Artwalk 2020
August 21 – September 13, 2020
Opening Festivities: Friday, August 21, 5-8pm
Artists Day: Saturday, August 22, noon-5pm

ArtWalk Call for Artists is coming soon. Check back often for details on ArtWalk.

More than 10 years ago friends Steve Lukather and Bill Evans got together and created musical genius with a supergroup they named TOXIC MONKEY.  All multi Grammy Award winners, and old friends, Steve Lukather (Toto, Ringo Starr), Bill Evans (Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra), Will Lee (Fab Faux, Late Show with David Letterman), Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, John Mayer),  and Steve Weingart (Dave Weckl, Chaka Khan) bring forth an evening of vocal and instrumental performance and jams like no other. This is their vacation away from recording, touring and writing with some of the biggest names in all of music! Expect to be musically awed by a performance that is nothing short of spectacular.

*RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 5, 2020

Back for two nights with an all new show! Randy Rainbow is an American comedian, actor, singer, writer and satirist best known for his popular series of musical parodies and political spoofs, which have garnered him international acclaim and millions of views for his viral videos. Get your tickets early – this show always sells out!

Northern Trust Broadway & Cabaret with support from Teed & Brown
Barts Tree Service Comedy Series
With support from Chateau de Berne

Gone West returns to The Playhouse stage after last summer’s incredible sold out show! The Nashville-based band featuring multi-platinum, two-time Grammy Award Winner Colbie Caillat (“Bubbly,” “Try,” “Fallin’ For You”), multi-platinum singer/songwriter Jason Reeves, four-time Hawaii Music Award Winner Justin Kawika Young and ACM and CMT nominated artist Nelly Joy. Gone West brings a fresh, new approach to modern Country music by balancing singer/songwriter vulnerability, Iowan humility, Lone Star tenacity and Hawaiian steel guitar.

Performing Careless Love & Relish Albums
Part of Ridgefield Jazz, Funk & Blues Weekend

Two amazing singer/songwriters come together for the first time, each performing their smash hit albums in their entirety! Joan Osborne, who recently had a sold out show here in 2019 with Dylanology, returns to her roots as she performs her debut album, Relish, which racked up 7 Grammy Award Nominations upon its release in 1995. Madeleine Peyroux, who previously received the award for Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards, will be performing her 2004 multiplatinum release, Careless Love.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to see these two great talents – who will be a highlight of Ridgefield’s Jazz, Funk and Blues Weekend!

Moffly Media Evening of Art, Wine & Jazz Series Sponsored by Atria Senior Living
Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity
Doyle Coffin Architecture Singer Songwriter Series

PLEASE NOTE: This event has been rescheduled! Saturday, September 12th is the new date.

Honoring Helena Hernmarck and Jack Shainman

The Aldrich Benefit Bash is the Museum’s single most important fundraiser of the year. Please join us for an evening of cocktails, dinner, DJ and dancing, and an exciting live auction featuring exclusive experiences, works of art, and more.

For the first time ever, the Benefit Bash will be held at The Loading Dock in Stamford, CT.

For information on table and ticket levels, click here.

The Aldrich will honor Helena Hernmarck, one of the most important contemporary figures in the evolving history of woven tapestries. Weaving in Progress at The Aldrich was the master weaver’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States in 20 years. Hernmarck began her career in the 1960s during an explosion of interest in fiber arts. Her innovations over the ensuing years are unsurpassed in visual imagery and technical innovation. Influenced by pop culture, her mature style evolved into the creation of often-monumental tapestries that exhibit complex illusionary space and diverse subject matter, including trompe l’oeil, landscape, still life, and the human figure. Helena Hernmarck was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1941. She lives and works in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

The 2020 Benefit Bash will also honor gallerist Jack Shainman. The Aldrich has exhibited artists represented by Shainman since the gallery’s opening in the 1980s, including Shimon Attie, Radcliffe Bailey, Paul Bowen, Petah Coyne, Brad Kahlhamer, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Claude Simmard, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Leslie Wayne, among others. The Museum has frequently worked with Jack Shainman Gallery since its humble beginning in New York City’s Lower East Side to the opening of its major new exhibition space, The School, located in Kinderhook, NY. As a gallerist Shainman has consistently set the highest standards for what an art dealer should be: passionate about the art he shows, loyal to his artists, and generous to others in the art world, with a deep belief in social justice and the role of art in moving culture forward.

This Benefit Bash supports the Museum’s mission to present the first museum exhibitions for emerging artists, significant exhibitions of established and mid-career artists whose work is under recognized, thematic group exhibitions exploring topics in contemporary art and society, and newly commissioned work. Accompanying all exhibitions are robust suites of educational and public programs for students, families, and adults.

*RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 18

Sponsored by:

DIAMOND SPONSOR: Elke & Lyle Katz

SAPPHIRE SPONSOR: Berisford, Rabinowitz, Ross & Stockel Families

GOLD SPONSORS: Deborah & Dan De Clercq, Eric Diefenbach & James Keith Brown, and Peggy & Robert Kaufman

SILVER SPONSORS: Rommin & Caroline Adl, Steve & Ann Carlson, Shari Goodstein, Mercedes-Benz of Danbury, Deb & Howard Bubb, Lindsey & Garry Berger

WITH SUPPORT FROM: Abbey Tent & Party Rentals, Chateau de Berne, Hollandia Nurseries, Pepsi, and Reliance Merchant Services

Ten-time GRAMMY®  Award winner Chaka Khan, whose hits include “Ain’t Nobody,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “Through the Fire,” has released 22 albums and  racked up ten Number One songs, seven gold singles and ten gold and platinum albums. She is estimated to have sold over 70 million albums worldwide. Chaka is revered by both millions of fans and her peers for her timeless, unmatched vocal style and image. The late, great Miles Davis noted that Chaka “sings like my horn.” And none other than the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, said Chaka “is a one-of-a-kind, premier vocalist.”

Join us before the performance under the tent for an open bar, choice wine and spirit tastings and dinner by the bite from various area restaurants and caterers. The evening also includes one of a kind auction items!