Presented by Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio

Mary Oliver is a favorite of poetry lovers of all ages for her lyrical, intimate, and sensitive poems, many of which use nature as a lens for exploring a wide spiritual spectrum of human emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and despair. The best Mary Oliver poems remind us to pause and take a breath, revel in our surroundings, and encourage us not to take anything for granted. 

Join us this August for our annual Mary Oliver Retreat Day, led by Br. Mark, one of Wisdom House’s most popular facilitators. Through reflection, discussion, and contemplative practice, we’ll explore the ways in which Oliver’s poetry teaches us to see the world with greater simplicity, and deeper wonder and gratitude. Together, we’ll support each other awaken to life’s everyday miracles and embrace poetry as a spiritual practice. 

Whether you’re familiar with her poetry or encountering her work for the first time, we hope that this year’s theme. The Beauty of the World, will move you with some of her best poems, including her own favorites — and perhaps inspire you to write some poems of your own. 

Though, sadly, Mary Oliver passed away in 2019, her poems serve as a poignant reminder to be present in every moment, whether it be a joyous occasion or a quiet, somber one. Join Br, Mark for an in-person retreat day poetry, reflection, and spiritual discovery as we, too, can learn what it means to be "saved by the beauty of the world.”

Guests are welcome to come overnight Friday, August 22 through Saturday, August 23. See the room options using the registration button below.

Lunch is included. Opportunities to stay overnight are also available.

This workshop will offer a comprehensive introduction to portraiture, still life and landscape photography. With access to professional lighting equipment, learn to manipulate lighting, shadows and compositional elements to create captivating imagery.

Instructor: Thaddeus Kubis

Saturdays, August 23, 30 & September 6, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $121.50 / Non-Members: $135

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Learn to utilize reference photos to paint in a creative, personal and expressive way. Dismiss the sense of obligation to create your subject exactly as it appears and manipulate your composition, assuring vitality and making the painting your personal creation.

Instructor: Souby Boski

Saturday, August 23, 2025

12:30 - 4:30 PM

Members: $72 / Non-Members: $80

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Saturday, August 23rd, at 7 PM, 2nd Home welcomes back Orb Mellon with Dave Robbins. Orb Mellon (https://www.facebook.com/orbmellon/) is the blues moniker of Mike Malone, founder and guitarist of the seminal 1990s indie rock band and Sony/Epic recording artists Dirt Merchants. Orb Mellon mines the raw energy of 20th Century American roots music, particularly whiskey fueled house party delta blues. They are one of the most dynamic performers we've had, and we don't use "don't miss" lightly. We are very much looking forward to having them back!

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

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2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

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Come check out the Torrington Recreations 2025 Summer Concert Series at Coe Park! Over the course of 14 weeks, every Thursday, starting June 5th and running through September 4th, we will be hosting 14 different bands who will perform a range of different genres. Concerts will be held on the outside portico at the Coe Memorial Park (101 Litchfield Road) from 6pm-8pm. Bring your blankets, chairs, food and drinks to enjoy our concerts in the park!

The Torrington Symphony Orchestra will be performing a wide range of selections consisting of Broadway favorites, familiar melodies, and more!

Friday, August 29th, at 7:00 PM, Ian Campbell (https://iancampbellmusic.com/home) returns to 2nd Home, and we are excited to have him back. Ian grew up in Connecticut with seventeen entertaining and musical brothers and sisters. Outrageous family dinner time jam sessions, with instruments like "salt shaker" and "nose" gave Ian a love for music and performance. Ian is a director and teacher for the National Guitar Workshop, and a full time, traveling singer/songwriter, He has honed the sound, communication, experience, and feels, of a powerful live performance. His goal is to have you leave with your spirits raised.

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

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2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2dhomelounge.com

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Paint and sip located above Toothpick on Water Street in Torrington!

BYOB! Painting new types of still life's every week.

All materials included in price

RSVP online

This workshop will offer a comprehensive introduction to portraiture, still life and landscape photography. With access to professional lighting equipment, learn to manipulate lighting, shadows and compositional elements to create captivating imagery.

Instructor: Thaddeus Kubis

Saturdays, August 23, 30 & September 6, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $121.50 / Non-Members: $135

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Saturday, August 30th, at 7 PM, Center Line Duo are back at 2nd Home Restaurant/Lounge! It's been too long since they've been here, and we're thrilled to have them back again.

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

https://goo.gl/maps/eC7A4ZDEjenNqzpb6

https://goo.gl/maps/NWGK4NRyk6MNfmWZ6

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Come check out the Torrington Recreations 2025 Summer Concert Series at Coe Park! Over the course of 14 weeks, every Thursday, starting June 5th and running through September 4th, we will be hosting 14 different bands who will perform a range of different genres. Concerts will be held on the outside portico at the Coe Memorial Park (101 Litchfield Road) from 6pm-8pm. Bring your blankets, chairs, food and drinks to enjoy our concerts in the park!

The Eddie Foreman Orchestra, is a western MA polka band that has been performing before audiences since 1968. Eddie Foreman started the band while he was still in high school, and has been creating and recreating music ever since. EFO is known for their standard Polkas with Polish lyrics, giving their fans an abundance of music to enjoy!

Friday, September 5th, at 7:00 PM, Bobby Pirotta returns to 2nd Home. Everyone has a great time when Bobby is here, and this time will be no different. Come down and enjoy some great music, food, drinks, and have fun.

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View:

https://goo.gl/maps/eC7A4ZDEjenNqzpb6

https://goo.gl/maps/NWGK4NRyk6MNfmWZ6

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

This workshop will offer a comprehensive introduction to portraiture, still life and landscape photography. With access to professional lighting equipment, learn to manipulate lighting, shadows and compositional elements to create captivating imagery.

Instructor: Thaddeus Kubis

Saturdays, August 23, 30 & September 6, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $121.50 / Non-Members: $135

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Inspired by the big band swing era, musical theater and early American folk music, with an upright bass, violin, an occasional accordion and any other willing participant recruited along the way, that's the amazing - Caravan of Thieves. This is the night, not to be missed.

Join the Monthly Critique sessions at Five Points Arts Center – Bring in an original work for personal, constructive feedback and discussion with Founder and Executive Director, Judy McElhone. All skill levels and mediums are welcome!

Free and open to the public

Tuesday, September 9

2 – 3 PM

Five Points Arts Center

MORE INFO & RSVP

Friday, September 12th, 2nd Home is excited to have Kala Farnham (https://www.kalafarnham.com/) here for her first time. Kala Farnham crafts folk songs with roots and wings, weaving age-old truths into modern grooves. The 18th Connecticut State Troubadour and Rose Garden Performing Songwriter Contest winner invites listeners into conversation with intimate, fireside-style performances. With soul-stirring vocals and mystical folk harp, piano, and guitar, she draws audiences into a transcendent journey—one that lingers long after the final note fades. Come down and make Kala feel welcome for her first time here.

For reservations call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Our Google Street View is online, and it looks amazing:

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2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

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Do you know the stories of how your ancestors came to America? What about the ones left behind? NOTES TO THE MOTHERLAND is a spellbinding psychological thriller that unearths the hidden experiences of Paul Rajeckas’ family during WWII, turning one son’s search for his immigrant past into a gripping theatrical journey.

Playing a multitude of characters in this riveting one-man show, Kent-resident, Paul Rajeckas, blends physical theater with a darkly incisive portrait of the 21st-century immigrant experience. This transformative performance brings the audience center stage into a powerful exploration of identity, history, and the secrets that shape us—an unmissable experience for anyone seeking to understand who we are and how we got here.

Funding for this performance provided by Dow Integrative Institute

Friday, September 19th, at 7PM, I Am Hologram (https://www.anythingbutmainstreamrecords.com/i-am-hologram) returns to 2nd Home for his 2025 tour performance. We've missed him on his 2023 and 2024 tours, and are thrilled he's back in 2025. An absolute dynamo with a diverse repertoire and great presence. At true don't miss.

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

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2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Presented by The Warner Theatre and The Connecticut Forum.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a bestselling author best known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love (2006), which became a global phenomenon and was later adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts. Before that breakthrough, she worked as a journalist, writing for publications like GQ and The New York Times Magazine. Her career spans multiple genres, including fiction, memoir, and self-help, with works like The Signature of All Things (2013), a historical novel, and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015), which explores creativity and inspiration. Gilbert’s writing often delves into themes of self-discovery, love, and personal transformation, making her a beloved voice in contemporary literature.

In fall 2025, Elizabeth Gilbert will release her highly anticipated memoir, All the Way to the River, chronicling her profound relationship with her late partner, Rayya Elias. Their bond began as an unexpected spark between two seeming opposites—Rayya, a fearless East Village icon who lived unapologetically but wrestled with self-doubt as an artist, and Liz, a married people-pleaser with an uninhibited creative spirit.

Over time, their connection deepened—from friends to best friends to soulmates. When tragedy struck, the undeniable truth surfaced: they were in love. Yet beneath it all lay another unspoken reality—they were both addicts, hurtling toward inevitable turmoil.

All the Way to the River is set for release in September 2025.

The Voice of Art's “Fine Art Festival" 2025!

• ​Fall: Sat-Sun, Sept 20-21, 2025 (10am-5pm) 
• @Sharon Town Green, CT
• Free and Open to the Public
• Fine Art & Functional Art

The Voice of Art is thrilled to invite you to its fifth annual outdoor juried fine art show, “Fine Art Festival" in Sharon on the Green (formerly, Litchfield Art Festival)!  This show will be a highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England and beyond. The Litchfield Hills have a history and reputation of featuring top fine artists from across the country, and also many well-known and beloved New England and CT artists who are widely admired by art enthusiasts. 

Fine Non-Functional Art:

• Painting 
• Sculpture 
• Mixed Media     
• Digital Art
• Graphics/Drawing
• Printmaking
• Photography

Fine Functional Art:

• Ceramics 
• Glass
• Leather
• Fiber/Paper Art
• Wood Works 
• Metal
• Jewelry

Food Corner:

• Crepe Royal 
• The Tasty Empanada
• Repicci’s Italian Ice & Gelato
• Hoffman Bread

Killer Queen – A Tribute To Queen featuring Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury!

Killer Queen has sold out venues worldwide, earning acclaim as the kings of musical impersonation delivering spot-on vocals, exceptional musicianship, and an electrifying stage presence.

Recognized as “Worldwide Best Tribute Band,” they even recreated Queen’s harmonies for a number one hit with Fatboy Slim. Killer Queen brings you classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Somebody to Love” in a thrilling, unforgettable performance that captures the magic and power of a live Queen concert.

Laurie MacAllister co-founded the beloved Americana trio Red Molly, which released seven acclaimed albums and toured both the U.S. and internationally, including appearances at MerleFest, Cayamo, and Boston Symphony Hall. jingle for a national TV commercial.

In 2024 Laurie MacAllister embarked on an exciting new chapter, launching a solo career with a sold-out performance at the legendary Club Passim.

New England’s #1 Pink Floyd Experience, Floydian Trip aims to recreate some of the spectacular and moving live performances that Pink Floyd became known for in the 1970s and 1980s. This era is sometimes known as the “Roger Waters Years.” Floydian Trip recreates the sound in both the performance and tone of how Floyd would have been heard if you were seeing them live on stage during the Dark Side of the Moon Tour, Wish You Were Here Tour, In the Flesh (Pink Floyd) Tour, or The Wall Tour. Floydian Trip painstakingly recreates the classic Pink Floyd live experience. The band has poured over thousands of hours of official, unofficial, and bootleg audio and video of Pink Floyd between 1973 and 1981 in order to create the most authentic live Pink Floyd experience you can witness.

Saturday, September 20th @ 8:00 pm

Admission $35 (plus fees)

Box Office 860-283-6250

www.LandmarkCommunityTheatre.org

The Voice of Art's “Fine Art Festival" 2025!

• ​Fall: Sat-Sun, Sept 20-21, 2025 (10am-5pm) 
• @Sharon Town Green, CT
• Free and Open to the Public
• Fine Art & Functional Art

The Voice of Art is thrilled to invite you to its fifth annual outdoor juried fine art show, “Fine Art Festival" in Sharon on the Green (formerly, Litchfield Art Festival)!  This show will be a highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England and beyond. The Litchfield Hills have a history and reputation of featuring top fine artists from across the country, and also many well-known and beloved New England and CT artists who are widely admired by art enthusiasts. 

Fine Non-Functional Art:

• Painting 
• Sculpture 
• Mixed Media     
• Digital Art
• Graphics/Drawing
• Printmaking
• Photography

Fine Functional Art:

• Ceramics 
• Glass
• Leather
• Fiber/Paper Art
• Wood Works 
• Metal
• Jewelry

Food Corner:

• Crepe Royal 
• The Tasty Empanada
• Repicci’s Italian Ice & Gelato
• Hoffman Bread

Friday, September 26th, at 7:00 PM, 2nd Home will have Brian DuFord and 2nd Home's own Sean P. McGlynn. Brian will be playing a great renaissance and classical music set from 7:00 - 8:00, and then Sean will join him from 8:00 - 10:00 for two hours of 60's - 90's classic rock.

For reservations call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

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2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Michael Ford's compositional and improvisational style draws on many influences, but it is rooted in a classical music aesthetic that stems from a life dedicated to the piano.

Ford describe his music as having hints of impressionism, progressive rock, jazz and Americana. He loves a good melody and enjoys rhythmic explorations. His music ranges from sadness to jubilant.

How to Hew Log Hewing Workshop

October 4th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Join us as we explore hand-hewing techniques and methods through a hands-on workshop at the Eric Sloane Museum. Have you ever wondered how hand-hewn beams are created? This hands-on class will be taught by preservation carpenter, Nevan Carling. Students will learn the basics of timber selection and beam layout all while using traditional tools and methods to create a hand-hewn finished product. Pre-Registration is required. Registration Information

What is Expressing Motherhood?

Expressing Motherhood is a gathering of voices and stories all about the journey of motherhood. Since 2008 #ExMoShow has showcased women (and men) sharing their personal stories on stage. Initially created and produced in Los Angeles by “two moms who had never done anything like it before.” Since, Expressing Motherhood has been taken on the road to an Off-Off-Broadway theater in New York City and to numerous other cities from Boston to Tacoma. 

The Merryall Center is thrilled to be its next stop in bringing these stories to our stage for our Litchfield County community. It’s an opportunity to share with one another in spoken word, monologue, skit, or song all the nuances and experiences that are forever attached to motherhood.

To find out more information, see Merryall Center’s Call for Submission

Deadline is 6/30/25.

Long before Bridgerton broke the Netflix algorithm, Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ) had helped establish classical crossover as a genuine force in contemporary music. Fresh off high-profile placements in Seasons 1 and 2 of the aforementioned streaming smash, VSQ has “reached a mainstream, global audience” (Variety) and “charmed the world with their classical covers” (Nylon). New York Observer wrote, “VSQ’s atmospheric hits have made classical versions of pop music cool.”

On their latest tour, VSQ have created fresh arrangements of the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift, performing spellbinding and innovative renditions of Swift’s music, alongside familiar hits from Billie Eilish, BTS, Bridgerton, The Weeknd to Daft Punk.

Set in the little town of Anatevka, the story centers on a poor milkman, Tevye, and his five daughters. As Czarist Russia encroaches upon the small-knit community, Tevye struggles to cope with the changing times and uphold his traditional values. As his three older daughters rebel, Tevye is forced to choose between tradition and family. Fiddler is the perfect mix of audience-pleasing humor and heart. 

October 4, 10 , 11, 17, 18 at 8 p.m.

October 5, 12, 19 at 2 p.m.

Admission $26 (not including fees)

Box Office 860-283-6250

www.LandmarkCommunityTheatre.org