Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

To My Eye: Jessica Jane on Art in the Hills

Jessica Jane Russell is an engaged member of the arts community here in the Hills. She works and shows guest artists out of her studio at The Switch Factory Studio, 931 Bantam Road, in Bantam. For more on Jessica Jane, please visit www.jess-jane.com.

During our visit to Norfolk, CT, Robert Whipple, General Manager of The Norfolk Chamber Music - part of Yale School of Music, gave us an engrossing tour of their summer campus located right in the center of town. We played a few keys on one of the oldest pianos in the US, toured the beautiful former home of 
Ellen Battell Stoeckel, who gifted her estate to Yale 85 years ago, and which now houses the Executive Director, Melvin Chen, for the summer. 
The Shed, designed for 500 guests by Ehrick Rossiter, is still used for performances to this day. The Festival’s 2025 season brings world-class classical music to the Litchfield Hills. This summer’s theme, Dialogues, explores the rich interplay of musical ideas across time, geography, and disciplines. You can find the schedule at @norfolk.yale  And book your stay at @themanorhousenorfolk for a step back in time.  #yale #yalemusic #norfolk #connecticut #music #litchfieldcounty #nwct @yale.music @norfolk.yale @norfolkctcommunity @themanorhousenorfolk #history #litchfieldmagazine
A couple weeks back we had the pleasure of going on a getaway to Norfolk (Norfork to the locals), CT at the 1890’s Rossiter designed inn @themanorhousenorfolk where we checked in and promptly toured the beautiful old home. 
We then began our adventure with a Great Mountain Forest tour led by Mike Zarfos, the new Exec Director for the Forest and local legend Starling Childs, an alumnus  of and closely connected to the Yale School of Forestry (now called Yale’s School of the Environment). The school still maintains a deep woods field camp built in 1940 to house 40 students that was for a time used every summer,  but now much more sparingly. Starling had the honor of teaching there for 30 of those summers in the past until Covid interrupted and caused the school’s rethinking priorities. The forest staff now uses the camp for educational outreach programming, as well as others like CT DEEP, UConn, and research institutes. Stay tuned for more scenes from our visit to beautiful Norfolk to come.  #greatmountainforest #norfolkct #litchfieldcounty #nwct #connecticut @yaleforestry @great_mountain_forest
Such a lovely evening this past Thursday in the newly revamped chef’s garden at the @mayflowerauberge in Washington.  We celebrated the new summer issue of @litchfieldmagazine with our clients, team, and friends. Amazing food, drink, company, and ambience.  A huge thank you to the Mayflower Inn and Spa for hosting us. 👏🏻❤️🙏 #litchfieldcounty #nwct #litchfieldmagazine #connecticut #mayflowerinn #regionalmagazine
Don’t Miss This Special Art Event
Painter Kathleen L’Hommedieu @kathleen_lhommedieu_art presents a solo show—turned collaborative—at Warren’s Landing in Woodbury. Known for her expressive, large-scale works, L’Hommedieu invited three ceramic artists to join the exhibition, adding a compelling three-dimensional element to the show. An inspired mix of painting and pottery—this one is not to be missed.

Opening Reception this Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 5 pm at Warren’s Landing, 920 Main Street South, Woodbury @warrenslanding
Exhibition Dates: July 11 through August 19

#art #painter #litchfieldcounty #nwct #artist #connecticut
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