We are so excited to reveal the extraordinary collection of PoP Art in the main gallery this evening. Bermano and Vinci pulled out all the stops for this exhibit! We also are proud to showcase an incredible group exhibition on the main level. Jodi Decrenza, Melinda Buie, Charles Seton, Meredith Mulhearn and gallery owner/artist Suzanne Bellehumeur. There is ample parking both in the rear gallery parking lot, adjacent street - Lafayette PL and the large municipal parking lot 1/2 block down Lafayette PL on the left.

Let's celebrate local! We're excited to showcase several of the brands that we carry in store, and some special guests who will be joining us that evening.

Try out samples from Red Bee Honey, Be Chocolat, Grace Farms Tea, Glasshouse Fragrances, Michael Joseph's Catering, our Forget Me Not Collection custom photography greeting cards, plus some special guests; Piecemeal Farms Gourmet Mushrooms, Cedaface Oils, Lynne Mercein Jewelry & Captain Zig Brewery. There will be tastings, nibbles and drinks to enjoy with opportunities to ask questions of the vendors and try their products.

All attendees that pre-register will receive a 10% discount on products sold by Nielsen's. Product offered directly through the vendors is not eligible for the discount.

BE Chocolat

BE was started by husband-and-wife team Benoit and Sylvie in 2014. Benoit was born and raised in Belgium, and after earning his Belgian Master Chocolatier degree in 2009, he went on to be the Head Chef of the chocolate corner at the Belgian Pavilion during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. When they moved to the US, he was making chocolate for friends and family who encouraged them to open up a storefront so everyone could enjoy their chocolate creations. So in 2021 they did just that and opened the Atelier in Fairfield. BE Chocolat emphasizes craftsmanship, creativity and selecting chocolates to make each visit an experience.

Cedaface Oil

Handmade in small batches in Rowayton, Ceda face oils are delicious smelling, organic beauty oils made especially for faces but still beneficial to all parts of the body, including scalp and hair. The oils are comprised of non-clogging, plant-based carrier oils (organic grapeseed, apricot kernel, and rosehip seed oils, organic jojoba) and unique combinations of essential oils that have multiple and varying benefits to the skin, with no chemicals or preservatives. There are 13 different mixes in a variety of scents—from floral to citrus to musk to woodsy—so people can choose according to their likes, and/or potential skin issues.

Captain Zig Brewery

Captain Zig is our very own superhero imagined by our youngest daughter. Our company embodies the spirit of promoting the inner superhero in all of us.

We have been brewing since 2008, perfecting our personal recipes along the way. Based in Darien, CT, our goal has always been to create beers we can enjoy with family and friends. In 2023, we decided it was time to expand our ability to share our recipes with a larger audience.

Thus, the canning process began and Captain Zig Brewing was born.

Grace Farms Tea

Grace Farms Tea & Coffee is an ethical tea and coffee brand rooted in sustainability, wellness, and social impact. We source organic teas and specialty coffees from women-led cooperatives and smallholder farmers around the world, supporting peace, resilience, and community through every cup.

Glasshouse Fragrances

We believe that our sense of smell is the most powerful one of all.

This is the world we inhabit and continually create at Glasshouse Fragrances. Complex, layered fine fragrances in many forms that make you feel something. Deeper. Beyond our product and yourself. What we make and where we take you is further than fragrance itself. Close your eyes. Open your imagination.

Lynne Mercein Fine Jewelry

Lynne Mercein draws her design inspiration from the natural beauty of the beaches, mountains and countryside around the world.

She began metalsmithing as a young girl in Northern California, where she was born and raised. Her father, who made jewelry as a hobby, introduced her to the art of jewelry making. Her passion was sparked then and her desire to work with metal and gemstones grew into adulthood. Now, Lynne designs and fabricates her pieces working with a team of New York City based metalsmiths and gem setters. Each design continues to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and is made with the utmost care and precision. Using 20 years of experience and training, Lynne hand selects all gems and ensures that each and every piece is a true work of art.

Red Bee Honey

Red Bee is a boutique honey company and design studio curated by author and honey sommelier
C. Marina Marchese. The collection offers single - origin honey, beeswax candles, soap, lip balm,
handmade stationary and journals.

Michael Joseph's Catering

Founded in 1985, Michael Joseph’s Catering provides high quality catering and event needs for customers in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Our experienced, professional culinary chefs and event planners are known for their unique and distinctive styles in food preparation and presentation.

Joseph M Viesta, Michael Joseph's founder has successfully planned and catered events for over 30 years. His services extend far beyond his clients' needs. Formally he served on the Board of Directors for STAR , Lighting The WAy , the Darien Chamber of Commerce, Darien United Way and the Center for Hope.

Justin M Viesta along with Gary Newman , Matt Ness & Kelcie Lopez, work together to create innovative and palate-pleasing menus and desserts. With their creative event planning ideas and expertise , events catered by Michael Joseph's Catering are both unique and memorable.

The entire staff at Michael Joseph's Catering is customer focused, dedicated, innovative and experienced and will create that special event for you.

This new photography art form introduces that by capturing the essence of a subject without specific form and detail, the experience is no longer literal. This increases the ability for one to pull from their own understanding, feelings, and perspective while interpreting the subject. Nabil West refers to this new form as “Interpretism”. During post-pandemic years, he was drawn to the open space created in one of his earlier works (Heartbeat, 2017). West longed for the "breathing room" or the time and space he had for reflection during the pandemic. This openness can be felt in the art work.

Another defining characteristic of the art is that these photographs are untouched, and as viewed through the lens, with the intent of bringing nature's true colors and imagery indoors. The approach of this photographic art creates indistinguishable transitions between colors, while celebrating nature’s vibrancy and wide tonal range, originating from often color-specific locations from around the world. It presents the beauty and power of nature without the cerebral distraction of detail, transforming the experience of viewing into more of a feeling rather than a thought.

“These works have just returned from their debut at Miami art week, and I am moved by the response it received! I hope you can join in viewing for yourself at this upcoming reception. It would be wonderful to see you there!” - Nabil West

Aaron Q. Weinstein, PhD, Assistant Professor of Politics at Fairfield University, delivers the opening lecture for our new exhibition.

To mark the opening of the exhibition For Which It Stands..., Aaron Q. Weinstein, PhD, Assistant Professor of Politics, will deliver a lecture at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, exploring the complex role of the U.S. flag in America’s “civil religion.” Dr. Weinstein will examine how the flag's meaning shifts based on context, political use, and personal interpretation.

His talk will be introduced by Executive Director and Exhibition Curator Carey Weber, with remarks by Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. The lecture will also be livestreamed on Arts & Minds Live (to register for a reminder, click here).

To register for the reception that will follow the lecture in Bellarmine Hall, click here. Shuttles will be available between the Quick Center and Bellarmine Hall.

About the exhibition: This exhibition examines depictions of the American flag through 70+ works by a diverse group of artists, beginning during WWI with Childe Hassam’s Italian Day, May 1918 and continuing to the present day, including a textile sculpture commissioned for the show from Maria de Los Angeles. The exhibition includes work in a variety of media by artists including Jasper Johns, Faith Ringgold, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey, and Julie Mehretu, and challenges viewers to consider who the American flag truly represents and whether justice is available to all.

For Which It Stands… forms part of America250: The Promise and Paradox, an initiative through which Fairfield University Explores 250 Years of the American Experiment.

Samuel Owen Gallery specializes in contemporary art, both original works and multiples. Samuel Owen Gallery maintains an extensive inventory of work by David Yarrow, Paul Rousso, Nick Veasey, Tyler Shields, Daniel Allen Cohen, Charles Patrick, and Charlie Bluett to name just a few. With over 20 years of experience in the art business, owners Lee and Cindy Milazzo share an unerring eye for unique and engaging contemporary art.  Lee and Cindy and their staff enjoy sharing their knowledge of art and artists, so whether a seasoned collector or new to collecting art, visitors to the gallery will be treated to a memorable experience. Please visit our website at www.samuelowen.com.

Event Details

Jelani Cobb, the renowned journalist, scholar, speaker, and current dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, will be the guest of honor at Westport’s 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, the Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Museum for History and Culture, and the Westport/Weston Clergy Association.

Why You Should Come

Cobb is a clear voice in the fight for a better America. The dean of the Columbia Journalism School and PBS Frontline correspondent for two critically acclaimed documentaries, Cobb explores the enormous complexities of our history, politics, and culture, while offering guidance and hope for the future.

A longtime writer for The New Yorker, the editor of its anthology collection The Matter of Black Lives, and the author of Three or More Is a Riot (one of Kirkus‘s best books of the year), Cobb “combines the rigor and depth of a professional historian with the alertness of a reporter, the liberal passion of an engaged public intellectual, and the literary flair of a fine writer,” said Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker.

About Westport’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is an annual event commemorating the life and values of Dr. King, held the weekend before the observed Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Past Martin Luther King Jr. celebration keynote speakers include National Book Award winner and MacArthur Fellow Ibram X. Kendi; Pulitzer Prize winner James Forman Jr.; New York Times best-selling authors Heather McGhee and Layla Saad; Guggenheim Scholar Carol Anderson; American Book Award winner Tricia Rose; Quinnipiac Law School founder Marilyn Ford; author/artist/ filmmaker/multi-dimensional performance artist Junauda Petrus, former King speechwriter and advisor Dr. Clarence B. Jones; and last year’s guest, award-winning writer, producer, and Shondaland visionary Shonda Rhimes.

About Jelani Cobb

Renowned for his thoughtful and incisive exploration of the complexities of our history, politics, and culture, Cobb received a Peabody Award for his 2020 PBS Frontline film Whose Vote Counts? and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary in 2018. He joined the Columbia Journalism School faculty in 2016 and became dean in 2022.

Cobb has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2015 and a political analyst for MS Now since 2019. He is the author of The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress and To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic, and the editor or co-editor of several volumes, including The Matter of Black Lives, a collection of The New Yorker’s writings on race, and The Essential Kerner Commission Report. He also is producer or co-producer on a number of documentaries, including Lincoln’s Dilemma, Obama: A More Perfect Union, Policing the Police and THE RIOT REPORT.

Cobb’s most recent work is Three or More Is a Riot, a collection of both published and original writing from his frontline reporting over the last decade. Three or More Is a Riot was named one of Kirkus’ best books of the year.

“Three or More Is a Riot is an archive of a writer at the height of his powers — and his powers are many,” said Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of The Message and Between the World and Me. “Insight, historical memory, reportage, pith, and, not least of all, wit. All these gifts Jelani Cobb deploys here without missing a beat, effortlessly weaving them into his own distinctive style.”

Click here to see a clip of Cobb’s conversation, “The Most Valuable Tool in the Search for Equality”

A graduate of Jamaica High School in Queens, New York, Cobb earned his BA from Howard University and received both is MA and doctorate (in American History) from Rutgers University.

In addition to his work at Columbia, The New Yorker, and MS Now, Cobb serves on the board of directors of the American Journalism Project and the board of trustees of the New York Public Library. He received an honorary doctorate for the Advancement of Science and Art from Cooper Union in 2022, and an honorary doctorate of letters from Rutgers University in 2024. York College / CUNY and Teachers College have honored him with medals.

He was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2023 and is a recipient of fellowships from the Ford Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation, and the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

About Trey Ellis

Ellis is an American Book Award-winning novelist, two-time Emmy- and Peabody-winning filmmaker, NAACP Image award-winning playwright and essayist, and professor of professional practice at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. His lauded first novel, Platitudes, was reissued by Northeastern University Press along with his influential essay, “The New Black Aesthetic.” He also served as executive producer of King in the Wilderness, the 2018 Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary (Outstanding Historical Documentary) on the last three days of Dr. King’s life.

Reserve here: https://westportlibrary.org/event/20th-annual-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-celebration-peabody-award-winning-journalist-and-scholar-jelani-cobb/

Lesley’s amazing photography of familiar waterfront landscapes will be on display at the Westport Book Shop in January! Join us to celebrate and appreciate his beautiful images of seaside towns including Westport, Southport, Black Rock, Provincetown, and Martha’s Vineyard.
Whether you’re an art lover or simply curious, this is the perfect chance to enjoy inspiring visuals and good vibes. All photograph purchases will benefit the Westport Public Library.

In the interplay between narrative and physical form, some objects offer what can be described as performative stories: narratives told through physical movement as well as words or images. Performative Stories will feature multidisciplinary artists Dan Hurlin and Maiko Kikuchi, experimental filmmaker Janie Geiser, and photographer Jason Gardner.

Co-curated by Leslee Asch and Kate Sheridan Chung

Exhibit dates: 1/15/26 - 3/4/26

Threads of Community

FREE OPENING RECEPTION THURSDAY 1/15 6-8pm

Join us as we celebrate Threads of Community, an exhibition bringing together artists whose practices are rooted in the fiber arts—stitching, weaving, embroidery, crochet, knitting, and construction with fiber. Through both tradition and innovation, these artists transform fiber into a powerful language of connection, memory, and making.

Featured Artists:
Faustin Adeniran, Carlos Biernnay, Naomi Clark, Linda Colletta, Ruben Marroquin, Sooo-z Mastropiece, Christina Morrow, and Liz Squillace—each weaving personal histories, cultural narratives, and experimental processes into a richly layered exhibition.

Upstairs in the loft gallery, artists and designers from Red Fashion School continue the conversation, where fiber bridges fine art, fashion, and design.

Threads of Community reminds us that community is not a single thread, but a tapestry—woven from many hands, stories, and shared experiences.

Opening Reception: Thursday Jan 15th, 6 - 8pm
 Location: The Norwalk Art Space
 Free & open to the public

#ThreadsOfCommunity #FiberArt #TextileArt #CommunityArts #ArtOpening #thenorwalkartspace #culturalallianceoffairfieldcounty #norwalkconnecticut #southnorwalk #artistoninstagram #ctartist #ctartists #norwalkctvisitors #ctartscene #fairfieldcounty #fairfieldcountyart #fairfieldcountyevents #fairfieldcountyartists

Event Details

JazzFC and Darien Library present: Grammy nominated pianist James Weidman with Harvie S, featuring Greg Wall and Ryan Sands.

Music of Monk, Mingus, Ellington, Gershwin and Weidman.

About the Quartet

Grammy nominated pianist James Weidman got his start as a member of James Moody’s band, and is currently a member of Joe Lovano’s US Five. He has recorded and toured with vocalists  Abby Lincoln, Cassandra Wilson and Kevin Mahogany.

Harvie S is one of the most recorded bassists of our time, appearing on well over 400 releases! His duo recordings with singer Sheila Jordan and pianist Kenny Barron are legendary.

Saxophonist Greg Wall is the Artistic Director of JazzFC, and has performed his music throughout the world, and brings the brightest stars of the New York Jazz scene to Westport’s Jazz at the Post each week.

Connecticut-born drummer Ryan Sands has emerged as one of today’s top young jazz drummers, performing with artists such as Terell Stafford, Geoffrey Keezer, and Jason Marsalis, and holding the drum chair for Christian Sands and Altus. With degrees from NEC and the Manhattan School of Music, he now teaches at Yale and SCSU. 

About JazzFC

The Jazz Society of Fairfield County (JazzFC) was formed to enrich the cultural life of Fairfield County by promoting the performance and appreciation of Jazz and its heritage.

JazzFC offers free or low-cost concerts by accomplished artists, outreach to under-served audiences, and educational and performance opportunities for student, amateur and emerging professional musicians. They are also committed to the maintenance and preservation of their historic 1937 Steinway Model M grand piano, formerly the house piano at the famous Village Gate jazz club in New York City, which has been played by an extensive list of iconic jazz musicians and appears on many recordings.

Presenting regular local concerts since 2015, JazzFC hosts a weekly jazz club, “Jazz at the Post”, in partnership with Westport’s Joseph J. Clinton VFW Post 399, with celebrated jazz artists such as Ethan Iverson, Antonio Hart, David Kikoski, Harvie S, and Joe Farnsworth as well as introducing our audience to the new generation of musicians moving the tradition forward.

JazzFC provides outreach to seniors, benefit performances for Veterans, and student musician clinics led by world-class professional musicians, followed by live performance opportunities by the students with their clinicians. In 2022, they launched a scholarship award for deserving students pursuing a higher education in music. JazzFC is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

Reserve Tix: https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/tentative-jazz-society-fairfield-county-jazzfc-94200

Don’t miss your chance to see the BIG Beautiful Art Trail Show before it goes away! Join us for our closing party on Sunday, January 11th from 2:30-5:30 PM at the University of Bridgeport’s Schelfhaudt Gallery (84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport CT).

Celebrate with us as we wind down an exhibit whose theme of “Connections” brings together art from both the artists of the Bridgeport Art Trail and the Artists Collective of Westport. Meet the artists, mingle, and enjoy light bites!

For more information visit bridgeportarttrail.org

or email bridgeportarttrail@gmail.com.

Join us in welcoming our newest Guild members at Silvermine Galleries

This special exhibition celebrates fresh voices, creative energy, and the diversity that continues Silvermine’s legacy of artistic excellence.

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10 | 2–4pm

#silverminegalleries #silvermineartscenter #exhibition #contemporaryartgallery #artcollector

Event by Happy Cat Hotel & Spa Norwalk, CT and Happily Furever After Rescue

19 Willard Road, Norwalk, CT, United States, Connecticut

Join us for the Grand Opening of Happy Cat Hotel & Spa Norwalk!

Saturday, January 10th
12–4 PM
19 Willard Rd, Norwalk, CT 06851

Come celebrate the opening of Connecticut’s newest luxury cat hotel! Bring the family, explore our beautiful themed suites, and enjoy an afternoon filled with fun, community, and, of course, CATS!

Event Highlights:
Guided hotel tours of our luxury cat suites
Cat adoption event in partnership with Happily Furever After Rescue
A cat caricature artist - bring a photo of your kitty!
Hot chocolate bar to keep you cozy
On-site food truck
Local small business vendors
Official ribbon cutting ceremony
Face painting
Crafts, contests, giveaways, and more!

Whether you’re a cat parent, a cat lover, or just curious about the experience, everyone is welcome. Come meet the Norwalk team, connect with fellow pet lovers, and help us celebrate this exciting new chapter.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Free Tai Chi class at Oak Hills Park! Meet at The Nature Center Saturday 12/28, starting at 11 am.

✨ You’re invited! ✨
Join us for the RESOURCE360 Grand Opening Holiday Party — Thursday, December 11th at 5PM-8PM.

Libations, light bites, music, and a first look inside New Canaan’s newest luxury design destination.

I am pleased to cordially invite you to a special original musical event on Thursday DECEMBER 11th, at 6:15 p.m. in the Faye and Ben Manger Gallery. The program will feature original compositions by Eugenie Diserio, arranged by JCC new music teacher Michael Oehmen, and performed by the talented young string musicians of INTEMPO—a nonprofit organization dedicated to making music accessible to local children. 

Reboot is the solo exhibition by Eugenie DiSerio, whose creative endeavors span painting, the internet, and the world of 1980s pop music. This exhibition serves as a mini-retrospective, highlighting 45 years of her painting career. A Stamford local, Ms. Diserio’s gallery opening will precede the musical performance from 6:30-8 pm .  

To register for the Opening Please click here

Join us for our Holiday Wellness Market! Step into the season of giving at SPRING’s Holiday Market, an evening of mindful shopping, community connection, and festive cheer. Explore curated wellness products and thoughtful gifts, enjoy light bites and holiday vibes, and don’t forget to enter our holiday raffle! The winner will be drawn Tuesday evening.

We are co-sponsoring the fifth annual Holiday Stroll with Dan Woog’s "06880." This year's event will feature participating retailers and restaurants offering deals and promotions, activities for children (face painting, s’mores, Santa photos, and more), and performances by the Staples High School Orphenians on Upper Main Street, Lower Main Street, corner of Post and Main outside Anthropologie, and Sconset Square. The Elm & Main complex at 136 Main Street will serve as the headquarters of Holiday Stroll with Santa, a DJ, a photo booth, and much more.

The Holiday Winter Market in the Elm & Main Lot will feature food vendors, holiday shopping, activities for the whole family and more! (See participating vendors below) The Westport Police Department will host a toy drive, so please bring a new toy.

The 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza is happening in Norwalk on Saturday, December 6, from 4 PM to 8 PM at 50 Washington Street! This festive community celebration is the perfect kickoff to the holiday season.

Bring the whole family for a magical evening featuring:
The official Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:50 PM.
Meet-and-greets with holiday characters.
An unforgettable spectacle as holiday. characters rappel 150 feet down the SONO50 building (5:45 PM).
An outdoor marketplace with over 25 local vendors for holiday shopping.
Live performances by the Norwalk. Conservatory of the Arts, Roton Middle School Choir, and Ladies of Finesse.
Kids' activities, including carousel rides, a trackless train, stilt walkers, and goat petting!
Free to attend, no tickets required. Don't miss this amazing night in SoNo!
#VisitNorwalk #HolidayExtravaganza #NorwalkCT #SoNo #TreeLighting #Holidays

Come support local small businesses this holiday season! Head over to festivusbazaar.com to see a full list of this years vendors!

It all started with a simple idea: bring our community together for the holidays while keeping the spotlight on the makers, dreamers, and small vendors who give Bridgeport its heart. Out of that vision, the Festivus Holiday Bazaar was born—a celebration of creativity, connection, and the joy of shopping small.

This year, the Bazaar has expanded to Fairfield and takes on even more meaning. Every booth you visit, every gift you pick up, every conversation you share helps a local artisan, baker, or crafter keep their passion alive. It’s not just shopping—it’s sustaining the spirit of small business.

Expect twinkling lights, festive music, and aisles filled with one-of-a-kind treasures you won’t find in big-box stores. From handmade jewelry to gourmet treats, quirky gifts to cozy crafts, the Bazaar is your chance to discover something magical while giving back to the community.

So grab your friends, bring your holiday cheer, and join us at the Festivus Holiday Bazaar—where shopping small makes a big difference.

Celebrate the magic of the season at the very first Wall Street Holiday Stroll this Saturday, November 29th from 11 AM – 8 PM, hosted by the Wall Street Neighborhood Association in partnership with the City of Norwalk! The Wall Street and River Street area will have an all-day festive experience filled with local business specials, family-friendly activities, and sweet treats.

Stop by 48 Wall Street to take photos with Santa and explore a variety of holiday photo sets throughout the building. Warm up with hot cocoa and cookies, then continue your stroll to shop, dine, and enjoy everything the neighborhood has to offer. Be sure to gather at 5 PM for the official tree lighting! #CityofNorwalk #WallStreetHolidayStroll #SaturdayNovember29

The most wonderful time of the year starts at Darien Library! Please join us for a celebration of holiday trees, each one representing a beloved book, decorated by community members, designers, and local organizations.

The trees will remain on display in Darien Library from November 28th to January 2nd.

Celebrate the holiday season at Darien Library’s 3rd Annual Lit Tree Lane Stroll! Be among the first to experience the Library transformed into a winter wonderland with beautifully decorated holiday trees by local artists and organizations. Enjoy festive music, catch up with friends, and indulge in refreshments.

No registration is necessary.

Bring on the holiday cheer!

Live Music ·   Light Bites ·  Libations