FOR THE RECORD
Drop by the Bruce
The Bruce Museum at 1 Museum Drive is open to visitors while construction continues on its expansion project. A permanent exhibit is open on “Natural Cycles Shape Our Land,” which takes visitors on a journey through cycles that unfold over millions of years at global scales and ends with small cycles that unfold at minuscule scales in our backyards. For information on the exhibits and hours, visit BruceMuseum.org.
Bruce Beginnings
The Bruce Museum’s Bruce Beginnings program for children is held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 11 to 11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays. Children ages 2.5 to 5 and their caregivers explore the museum’s collections and exhibitions through picture books and hands-on activities. Topics rotate between art and science. Free with admission but space is limited. Go to visitor service desk upon arrival. For more info, visit BruceMuseum.org.
Food donations
The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes accepts food pantry donations for Neighbor to Neighbor from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays in its parking area at 4 Riverside Ave. Items needed include peanut butter and jelly, oatmeal, canned meat, tuna, canned fruit, dried or canned beans, cereal, rice and soup as well as household cleaners and toiletries. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 200 Riverside Ave. accepts donations from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays.
Playing bridge
Learn to play bridge at the Greenwich YMCA in two courses: Beginner Bridge from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Improve Your Bridge Game with Conventions from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Ready to play? Games are held at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. To sign up, call Frank at 203-524-8032. Reservations required. No partner required. If you have a partner or a foursome, tell Frank.
Twachtman exhibit
An exhibit of artwork by Impressionist painter John Henry Twachtman, featuring paintings created when he lived in town, is on display at the Greenwich Historical Society through Jan. 22. The exhibit, titled “Life and Art,” spotlights 18 pieces of artwork on loan from museums and private collections. The gallery, located at 47 Strickland Road in Cos Cob, is open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors and free to children under 18 and members. For more information, visit www.greenwichhistory.org.
Speaker at men’s group
The Greenwich Retired Men’s Association offers a free speakers program at 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Visit www.greenwichrma.org for a link to watch via Zoom or attend in person at the First Presbyterian Church. On Nov. 23, Pat Craig, executive director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colo., will speak on “The Wild Animal Sanctuary and Its Role in Ending the Captive Wildlife Crisis.”
Reindeer Festival
The 14th annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop will open for the season at noon Friday at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North St. Santa and three reindeer will return to Greenwich through Dec. 24. Visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and enjoy Santa’s Workshop, where they can write letters to Santa and do arts and crafts. A portion of the proceeds all photos with Santa will be donated to Kids In Crisis, a local nonprofit. All dogs on leashes can also have their photo taken with Santa, with a Doggy Gift Bag offered on weekdays. There will be added opening events, refreshments, music and more from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For details, including prices and hours, visit www.greenwich reindeerfestival.com/.
Turkey Trot
The annual Greenwich Alliance for Education’s Turkey Trot will be held Saturday, offering residents a chance to work off their Thanksgiving dinners while supporting the GEA’s programs in Greenwich’s public schools. The
event offers a 5K race and a 1-mile fun run/walk. Both begin at the Arch Street Teen Center and go through Bruce Park before returning to the Teen Center. The fun run/walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. The 5K race will begin at 10 a.m. There will be warm-ups and stretching starting at 9 a.m. To register for the 12th annual race, visit greenwichalliance.org/ turkey-trot-2022.
A Christmas Carol
Celebrate the holiday season with the classic Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Carol.” Tickets for this live singular performance by master storyteller Jonathan Kruk are on sale. The performance will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center. Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased by residents at www.greenwichct.gov/webtrac.
Holiday Food Drive
Greenwich is partnering with Neighbor to Neighbor to host a food drive this holiday season. Collection bins will be set up for nonperishable food items at Town Hall, the Parks & Recreation Office, Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center and Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink. In addition, there will also be an online fresh fruit and vegetable drive. Visit https://files.constantcontact.com/ dbfde9d0301/8744cf79-223d4fac-93d6-dd1ae04e59e9.pdf for more information and to donate online. The drive will run from Nov. 26 to Dec. 15.
Science Solvers
Science Solvers, offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays, is a drop-in program designed for children ages 4 and up and their families at the Bruce Museum. Participants will explore simple science concepts and subjects while partaking in fun kid-friendly experiments, projects, and crafts. This program is free with admission. For more info, visit BruceMuseum.org.
Coat giveaway
The town of Greenwich will hold its annual distribution of new and gently used winter coats along with diapers. The event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 29, and 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the meeting room at Greenwich Town Hall. Proof of Greenwich
address is required. No preregistration is needed.
Art show
The Friends of the Cos Cob Library is hosting an exhibit of paintings by Kasia Toczydlowska titled “The Beauty of Nature. It will be on display at the Cos Cob Library through Nov. 29. Originally from Poland, she specializes in abstract paintings and loves to paint nature and the beautiful places she is surrounded by in Greenwich. She is a full-time teacher at the Greenwich Christian Preschool.
Winter Market
The annual Winter Market at Christ Church Greenwich, 254 E. Putnam Ave., offers an exquisite collection of the finest in holiday gifts, jewelry, clothing, specialty foods, flowers and items made to be enjoyed with family and friends. The event is run in conjunction with the Greenwich Historical Society. The opening night cocktail reception is Thursday, Dec 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a suggested donation of $20. The event continues from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and 9:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. For more information, visit https://greenwichhistory.org/ event/winter-marketopening-2022/.
Annual Tree Lighting
Join Santa and friends for Greenwich’s annual tree lighting at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in front of Town Hall. Entertainment will be provided by Greenwich a cappella and Allegra Dance Greenwich. Sponsors include the Granola Bar, Darcars Automotive Group, Bestever Dry Cleaners, St. Moritz Bakery and the Greenwich Arts Council.
Friday films
“Friends Friday Films,” a free event sponsored by the Friends of Greenwich Library, is held weekly at 7 p.m. in the library’s Berkley Theater. On Dec. 2, the film will be “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.” Take a stroll down Sesame Street in this documentary with the creators, artists and educators who established one of the most influential children’s series in television history. After the film, stay for a Reel Talk Q&A with Leslee Asch, a puppet builder, author and curator who spent over 20 years working for the Jim Henson Company.
Library tours
Join a tour of the recently renovated main Greenwich Library building from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Get reacquainted with different areas that have been transformed during the two-year project. Plus, librarians will answer questions about services and programs. Register at GreenwichLibrary.org. Walk-ins accommodated if there is room.
Battle of the Badges blood drive
The Battle of the Badges blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Greenwich Public Safety Complex. It’s a friendly competition among the police department, fire department and emergency medical service to see which one sends the most blood donors to the drive. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.
Pancakes with Santa
The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich will host its Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at its clubhouse at 4 Horseneck Lane. The cost is $10 per person for all adults and nonmember youth. Cash or check at the door. Children under 2 are free. Thanks to a generous community sponsor, members who show their card will eat for free. In addition to pancakes and all the trimmings, there will be photos with Santa, holiday music, and face painting. All of Greenwich is invited to this festive event. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For information, visit bgcg.org
Choral concerts
The Greenwich Choral Society will hold its Annual Holiday Concerts — “Legends and Traditions” — at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and at 2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 4 at Christ Church Greenwich, 254 E. Putnam Ave. In addition to the traditional candlelight processional and seasonal carols, Gerald Finzi’s Magnificat and Benjamin Britten’s Saint Nicolas will be featured. Tenor Chance JonasO’Toole will sing the role of Nicolas. The Greenwich Academy Madrigals will perform as well. Tickets are $55, $40 and $25, and are free for students K-12. For tickets and additional information, visit www.gcs-ct.org.
Bush Holley House Tours
The Greenwich Historical Society will offer special holiday tours of the Bush-Holley House for visitors to enjoy a festive walk through of decorations from the early 20th century and holiday traditions enjoyed by the Holley family in the era of the Cos Cob Art Colony as well as early American wintertime and holiday celebrations as observed in the era of the New Nation, among the Bush family and their Greenwich neighbors. Tours are appropriate for adults and families with children ages 5 and older. Masks are required for staff and visitors. For more information, visit https://greenwichhistory.org/ event/holiday-tours-of-the-bushholley-house/. Tours begin at: noon 1:30 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. Capacity is 10 guests per tour. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors; and $10 for members and children.
First Sunday Bird Walks
The Friends of Greenwich Point will hold its First Sunday Bird Walks at Greenwich Point Park from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Dec. 4. Bring binoculars and meet near the main concession stand at the south end of the beach. The bird walks provide friendly and informative birding with guides. Everyone — from beginner to expert, of all ages — is welcome. No fees or registration required. For more information, visit https://birdwalk.home.blog/.
Holiday puppet show
Acclaimed puppeteer Robert Rogers presents a play based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of an old-fashioned tin soldier who lives among a bunch of other toys, and whose job it is to keep everyone safe. When a disgruntled Jack-in-the-Box stirs up trouble, the Steadfast Tin Soldier must decide what to do in this festive holiday tale. Rogers is the founder of the American Puppetry Project, a nonprofit dedicated to puppet making and dramatic arts in classrooms. Performances will be from 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. For more information, visit https:// greenwichhistory.org/event/ holiday-puppet-show-thesteadfast-tin-soldier/
Zero Energy Ready Building Workshop
The Board of Selectmen’s Energy Management Advisory Committee is holding a Hybrid Zero Energy Ready Building workshop from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Town Hall. This workshop will endeavor to demystify terms like Zero Energy Ready, Net Zero Energy and various pathways to get there.
Festival of Tabletop Trees
The lobby of the Greenwich Historical Society will be transformed into an enchanted forest as the fourth annual Festival of Tabletop Trees. The event celebrates the talents of local designers, merchants, nonprofits and other organizations that donate their talents to decorate the trees. The festival is open to the public at no cost at the Historical Society campus at 47 Strickland Rd., Cos Cob. The trees will be on display for bidding by silent on-site auction from Dec. 7 to Dec. 10. For more information, visit https://greenwichhistory.org/ event/festival-of-trees-2022/.
Flinn show
The Flinn Gallery on the second floor of the Greenwich Library will host a new show called “Forms of Nature,” featuring the work of Joan Goldin and Leigh Taylor Mickelson, through Dec. 7. Paintings, photography and ceramic sculpture inspired by nature and interpreted by the artists’ visions will fill the gallery. For more information visit: http://flinngallery.com.
Car seat safety checks
Greenwich Hospital is offering monthly car seat safety checks one day of each month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Putnam Medical Center, 500 W. Putnam Ave. The next session will be Dec. 8. To schedule an appointment with a certified technician to learn how to correctly install a car seat and properly secure their child in the car seat, call 203-200-KIDS or email Carseats@ynhh.org. Anyone expecting a baby is encouraged to make an appointment.
Holiday family festival
Bring the entire family for photos with Santa and a visit to a decorated dollhouse displayed in the Historic Barn at the Greenwich Historical Society from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 10. Partake in gingerbread decorating and crafts in Santa’s workshop. Winter beverages and classic grilled cheese and tomato soup treats will be served from the Crispy Melty Cheese truck while performances by the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers warm hearts. Professional ice sculpture Bill Bywater will create a wintry marvel from giant blocks of ice, and to round out the evening of holiday fun, s’mores and hot cocoa will be served outside by a roaring fire. For more information, visit https://greenwichhistory.org/ holiday-festival/
Holiday run
The Greenwich Road Runners Holiday 5K and 1-mile fun run/ walk will be held Sunday, Dec. 11, at Greenwich Point. Participants are encouraged to dress in their most festive attire — there will be prizes awarded based on holiday spirit as well as finishing times. The 1-mile run begins at 10 a.m. and the 5K run at 10:30 a.m. To register, visit https://runsignup. com/Race/CT/OldGreenwich/ GreenwichRunningClub Holiday5kand1MileFunRun.