Wined Down Fridays: Painting and BYOB at The Giggling Pig

Pic from The Giggling Pig Site

Living Social has a great deal going on now at The Giggling Pig in Shelton.  For just $12 (normally $25), you’ll get to take part in a Paint & Sip BYOB painting class.  These fun events where you bring your own bottle are held every Friday from 7-9 pm.  You don’t need to bring any supplies at all, either!  Artist Gail Bell, a landscape painter, will be hosting the class.  If this is something you really love, there’s the option to sign up for the entire month, too.  If you do that, you’ll get $5 off each class.  Quite a nice deal!

If you’re concerned about being a beginner and not knowing how to paint, don’t worry.  Gail will teach you the tricks of the trade.  Plus, think about it.  Everybody will be drinking wine and beer, so if someone appears to be better to you, blame it on drinking too much liquor.  Or, give those people more liquor so that your skills start to match up!  See, it’s a win-win!

A Chocoholics Dream: Chocolate World Expo Comes to Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk!

Studies have shown that chocolate can help you lose weight and actually keep your heart healthy.  So, look dastardly dentist dad of Willy Wonka and all of his ilk…sweets won’t kill you.  No, let us bravely move forward, embracing chocolate and sweets in all their beautiful forms.  Yeah, whether we talk about chocolate covered bacon, chocolate covered pickles (!?), rum cakes, chocolate flavored coffee, chocolate dipped waffles, or even jellies, we need to remember that we’re feeding our hearts and souls.  So, come and feed your inner child at the Chocolate World Expo on Sunday, 1/27 from 10 am to 7 pm at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk.  Tickets are just $15 for adults or $10 for kids (ages 2-12) and that INCLUDES admission to all Maritime Aquarium exhibits.  If you’re a member of the aquarium, you’ll also save $2 per ticket!

What will you get for that sweet (we made a funny, haha) price?  Check out the details from their site:

At Chocolate World Expo Connecticut, approximately 35 local and regional vendors will offer tastings & sales of their delicious and decadent products that include chocolates, baked goods, gelato, specialty foods and food-related gift items.  Vendors will be set up in Newman’s Own Hall (near the seals) and throughout the Aquarium’s galleries, which will be fully open that day - at no extra cost to visitors - making this special event an especially outstanding value for attendees!

Participating vendors include 5th Avenue Chocolatiere, Auntie El’s, Bacon Bites, Barbara’s Butter Crunch, Bella’s Home Baked Goods, Breezie Maples Farm, Chocopologie Café, Fretzels by Jill, Goodway Bakery, JD Gourmet, Kathie’s Kitchen, Knipschildt Chocolatier, Le Rouge – Handmade Chocolates by Aarti, Moon Doggie Coffee Roasters, Peanut Principle, Puckers Gourmet, Rescue Chocolate, Screme Gelato, Xocai Healthy Chocolates, Yona’s Gourmet and more.

Win Big and Eat Cheap at the 2012 Fairfield Restaurant Week: 10/14 – 10/20

Ah, the anticipation and excitement that this will bring.  From October 14 – 20, you’ll be able to take part in Fairfield Restaurant Week.  This, dear OmNomivores, is a restaurant week different than ones you’ve experienced before.  First off, you have an amazing variety of top class restaurants participating.  Secondly, you’ll have a chance to check out old favorites or even some of the newer restaurants in town like Bodega Taco Bar, Martel, and The Chelsea.  Also, this will be pretty light on the wallet with lunch at $10 or $15 and dinner for just  $20 or $30.  Some places might even throw in some other kind of discount or special, just for you.  How about $10 for a case of stingers from Colony Grill?  Sold!

But, let’s get down to things now.  As if eating out on the cheap isn’t enough, you’ll have a chance to win a pretty amazing prize.  This is all you have to do:

Stew Leonard’s Celebrates Harvest Season with Food, Wine, and Beer to Benefit The Norwalk Exchange Club – Norwalk, CT

Fall is one of our favorite seasons.  Yeah, we know, there’s only four to choose from, but it’s in the top four most definitely.  You’ve got perfect weather, nature’s colors explode, there is always so much to do, and it’s harvest time.  Yes, this is the time when all your favorite pumpkin beers come out, when you drink cider again (hard or regular), and when you crave that slice of pumpkin pie.  Well, we’ve got another great way for you to enjoy fall:  a harvest season party with food, wine, and beer at Stew Leonard’s Wines and Spirits of Norwalk to raise money for The Exchange Club.

There will be over 65 different wines and beers available for tasting that you can try along with some great seasonal food.  Tickets are just $40 and, as mentioned, go to help The Exchange Club that will use the money to benefit local community organizations and Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities.  Just come by on Thursday, 10/18 from 6 pm to 8 pm and celebrate.

For starters, check out some of the food:

Can it! Learn how to preserve and can your food. Wakeman Town Farm – Westport, CT

We were at The Christmas Tree Shop (Dan’s nemesis, his holy water, his silver bullet) recently and saw giant cases of mason jars.  That got us to thinking how amazing it would be to can our own veggies or make our own jam and sauces.  Then we got to more thinking and were scared because we didn’t know how to do it properly.  Then we kind of gave up.

You could make something as awesome as this! From Wakeman Town Farms page.

But, we don’t have to give up anymore.  Wakeman Town Farm is actually holding a special workshop on September 8 from 9 am to 12 pm.  You’ll learn how to can, make jams, and even blend together a nice tomato sauce.  The class costs $35 when you register online or is $40 at the door.  There isn’t much space, so make sure that you get your spot online before anything begins.  Oh, you’ll also come home with some nice treats…a few jars of your own goodness that you can store away for fall or the cold days of winter.

Nom away at these Connecticut weekend events

Sometimes you are just jonesin’ for something to do in the great state of Connecticut because we are, well, still revolutionary.  Ya know?  Lucky for us this upcoming weekend has tons of fun, food, drinks, and music in store.  So, let’s break it down for ya:

1)  Shoreline Wine Festival 

When:  August 11: 12pm – 7pm and August 12: 12pm – 6pm

Where:  Bishop’s Orchards Winery :  1355 Boston Post Road in Guilford, CT

How Much:  $30 ($25 for advanced ticket) or $10 for a designated driver.  Buy here.

Why go?

Lots of food to nom on and vendors to check out

Lots of wine from CT’s own vineyards:  Bishop’s Orchards, Chamard, Hopkins, Jonathan Edwards, Jones, Sunset Meadows, and DiGrazia.

Lots of music to listen to:

• 8/11:  Moody Blossom from 12-3 and Shiny Lapel Trio from 3:30-7
• 8/12:  Dizzy River Band from 12-3 and Rizzo’s Dilemma from 3:30-6

Plus, learn some new things about wine:

• Len Gulino, “Wine 101″ 8/11 + 8/12 at 3 pm
• Wayne Stitzer, 8/11 + 8/12 1:30 and 4:30

Wakeman Town Farm Hosting Family Fun Day w/ Games, Food Trucks, MYO Sundaes, a Pie Contest, and More!

Need somewhere to take the kiddos on Saturday, July 14?  Or, maybe you’re just a kid at heart and want to enjoy some local food trucks, check out a pie contest, or just want to pet some animals?  Either way, you’ll have to stop by at Wakeman Town Farm at 134 Cross Highway in Westport on 7/14 from 12-4 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, and just $5 for kids.  The food trucks are eat as you go, though, so bring some extra dinero.  If you’re planning on going, make sure that you register by writing The Wakeman Town Farm at wakemantownfarm@gmail.com.

Here’s a full list of all the great things going on:

• Local food trucks (Steaz Ice Teaz, J&J Kettle Korn, Christie’s Country Store, and an unidentified ice cream truck!)

• Games

• Farm Olympics

• Make your own sundaes

• Picnic (BYO blanket)

• Kid’s auction (you can win classes, workshops, and hoard-worthy items)

• Face painting

• Garden Tours

• Petting zoo

• Pony rides

• Pie contest (yes please)

• Fire truck (dalmatian not included)

• Not listed:  helping support local farmers!

Rock the Dock Party to Help Rebuild Bridgeport Harbor, 6/30/12

When Kristien and I lived in Black Rock, we loved checking out the water, the beaches, and the docks.  One lucky day we got to break some waves on a friend’s boat and ride all around Long Island Sound, wind in our hair, bugs in our face.  Well, not everybody gets an opportunity like that, but Connecticut Community Boating is making it easier.  They’ll be raising money with an event of massively fun proportions on June 30, the Saturday before July 4.  With the money, they’ll help rebuild Bridgeport Harbor so that wounded warriors, people of all income levels, and people of all abilities can ride the Long Island Sound.

Tickets are super affordable, only $20 for adults, $35 for couples, and free for adults.

Check out all they have to offer:

• all the food you can eat (included in ticket)
• live music
• prizes & giveaways every 20 mins
•  a live auction featuring great deals from Fairfield County’s best artists, restaurants, attractions and hot spots
•  family fun
•  community info 
• sunset boat rides along the banks of the Pequonnock and Bridgeport Harbor where we will be building the Bridgeport Boat Basin!

Tickets are limited – so get yours today- click here to purchase!

Saturday, June 30, 2012

4–11PM

305 Knowlton Street

Bridgeport, CT 

Clambake with Music and Drinks to Raise Money for Bridgeport Arts Fest, 6/15

On July 7, 2012 at McLevy Green in Bridgeport will be the Bridgeport Arts Fest.  This event is so massive that we aren’t even sure how to describe what will happen there.  We’ll try, though:  live music, art, performers, activities like a homebrewing demo and seaside bike tour…and tons more.  Check out more at the end of this post and more on their site.

With hundreds of reasons to go, it’s gonna take some dinero to sponsor this awesomeness.  Well, that’s where the Bridgeport Arts Fest Clambake comes along.  Check it out Friday, 6/15, from 7-10 pm at Gallery 305K on 305 Knowlton Street in Bridgeport.  When you buy a ticket, you get dinner, a drink, get to listen to live entertainment, and you get a chance to win 1 of 5 pieces of art that have been donated by Bridgeport Arts Fest artists.  But wait, there’s more…there will be door prizes, too!  Food is sponsored by Bridgeport Shellfish and Seafood, Barnum Publick House, One of a Kind Catering, Sweet Magnolia Catering, and a homegrown green salad by Cook and Grow.  Wine will be provided by Barefoot.  You must be 21 or older, there’s no smoking, and it’s dog-friendly.

Here are the costs:

Online:  $26.87 for one, $42.39 for two

At the door:  $30 for one, $50 for two

Here’s a breakdown, from the Bridgeport Arts Fest site about what to expect on July 7:

+ Over 100 Artists, Artisans, Crafters and Community Groups
+ 8 Day Stage performances
+ After-Party Concert
+ Screening of the Home Sweet Bridgeport film competition winners
+ 7 live-action studio and interactive educational events
+ 20 local food and drink vendors
+ Bridgeport Community Land Trust “Beer Garden”
+ Over 30 Urban Beautification mural installations
+ Westport Arts Center’s Heroes Project
+ Gold & Main Block Party
+ Downtown Tour of Living
+ Seaside Bike Ride
+ LuzJonz Summer Fashion Show
+ Poetry Slam
+ Freeform creativity wall
+ Sweet Spot! area design competition
+ Special After-Party illuminations
+ MANY other displays of creativity in action!

Fun-raiser: Wild Wine, Beer + Food Safari 2012 @ The Beardsley Zoo – Bridgeport, CT

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Isn’t that just the cutest picture you’ve ever seen?  Is he holding up the wine to observe the color before he swishes it around?  Is he raising it as a toast to all animals at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport?  Or, is he ready to down some of the good red stuff?  Well, I guess he could be doing all three.  Maybe he’s just raising a glass to you for coming along to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo‘s Wild Wine, Beer & Food Safari on June 2 from 6-9 pm.  He doesn’t have any pockets, but he’ll be asking for $55 online (buy here), $50 for groups of 4 or more, or $60 at the event…if he hasn’t sold all of his tickets.

This will be one wild tasting event to be a part of.  Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will have fun stations where you can get your grub on such as drinks from Wine Emporium of Shelton, as well as local restaurants and caterers.  Because there is alcohol there, you must be 21+ to enter.  Oh, there is more, though, for our fur loving friends.  There will be live entertainment and you’ll have a chance to prance and stomp around Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo to check out all the animals.  Also, put your bid down on some silent auctions like a trip to The Cape, signed sports goodies, theater tickets, beauty packages, and more.  All proceeds from this fundraiser will help the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo‘s operation, its growth, its educational programs, and its conservation initiatives.

List of Restaurants and Caterers (more to come)

Liquid Lunch

Cucina di Carla

The Soup Girl

Joe’s American Bar and Grill

Luigi’s Italian Pastries

Gelato Giuliani

David M Grant Catering

Smoke & Bones

The Barnum Publick House

Fortuna’s Deli

Chocopologie

Stockbridge Cheesecake

Carl Anthony’s Trattoria

Chili’s Bar and Grill

Vazzy’s Brick Oven

Rainforest Cafe

Trader Joe’s

Event details: Saturday June 2, 2012 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Tickets are $55 in advance; $50 for groups of four or more

and $60 day of the event (if available)

Ages 21+ only