Love Live Music? Want To Earn Tickets Doing Giving Back?

#THECAPCARES VOLUNTEER REWARDS PROGRAM

In an effort to engage music fans in serving their communities, The Capitol Theatre is thrilled to continue #TheCapCares Volunteer Rewards Program, where we encourage our fans to come together to make a difference in the lives of others.

We have hand-picked volunteer opportunities throughout 2022 that support nonprofit organizations doing excellent work across our region. As a thank you, volunteers earn free concert tickets to select shows, and have the opportunity to win exclusive signed items from artists performing at The Cap including Railroad Earth, Lettuce, and Chelsea Handler, as well as gift cards from local businesses like Village Station, Mamaroneck’s fantastic new restaurant and bar.

The Capitol Theatre's goal is to bring people together. As we get back to concerts, we believe that #TheCapCares is a great opportunity to connect with one another and strengthen our music community even further as a united force for good, helping our neighbors in need. The volunteer program is part of a larger year-round program promoting food drives, toy drives, and fundraising campaigns aimed at improving lives within our community.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN #THECAPCARES?

We welcome anyone 18 years or older who would like to volunteer their time and is interested in making a difference. All volunteers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. We look forward to connecting and meeting new and old friends.

REWARD REDEMPTION

Redeeming your tickets is easy! Volunteers will earn two tickets (Standing Room Only or General Admission) for select shows on The Capitol Theatre calendar. Tickets can be redeemed after completing a minimum of one volunteer event. The only eligible volunteer opportunities for ticket rewards are listed below. Check out the list of upcoming shows HERE!

HOW DO REDEEM TICKETS?

Once you’ve completed your service and are ready to redeem tickets, simply contact us at thecapcares@thecapitoltheatre.com to request two tickets to the show you're interested in attending. Once we verify with organizers that the required service hours have been met, we will issue your tickets. Tickets cannot be transferred, exchanged, or sold. Tickets may be redeemed at any time during the calendar year.

HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES

#TheCapCares is committed to participating in safe volunteer events. Please do your part to volunteer responsibly and follow all guidelines set by the collaborating organization. Bring your mask and prepare to social distance.

https://www.thecapitoltheatre.com/blog/detail/announcing-thecapcares-volunteer-program?fbclid=IwAR3XDL8CSfx3WHhkTCA2x0nFsS034Kr453ZjTGgSMVTc7U-Ma9jqdka1MBc

Financial Tips for a Prosperous Future

Unfortunately financial literacy is not a mandatory class in all high schools across the country. Therefore, many teens and young adults are not equipped with money management skills to help them prosper throughout their lives. Frugal Fairfield invites you to read on to learn some helpful tips that can get young people on the path to financial success.

Start an emergency fund

When you start working, you need to start saving. It's essential to save for a rainy day, but many Americans are completely unprepared for emergencies. According to a Bankrate survey, 28 percent of adults in the U.S. have no emergency savings, and 25 percent have an emergency fund but not enough money to cover three months' worth of expenses. If you haven't begun to save for a rainy day, now is a great time to start. Most financial experts recommend saving for at least six months' worth of living expenses for emergencies. This way, you'll have money to cover unexpected car repairs, medical bills, and other emergencies.

The easiest way to start saving is to set up automatic contributions to your savings account to be transferred from your checking account each month. Consider your contributions like any other bill and include them on your budget.

Know where your money is going

Speaking of budgets, everyone should create a written budget and stick to it. Use a simple budget worksheet or a free program like Mint to manage your finances. If you find that you are falling behind every month, having a budget in place and tracking your expenditures can help you identify where you are overspending and figure out places you can cut back.

Go Back to School

If you’re stuck in a career that doesn’t allow you to earn as much as you’d like, or you’ve always wanted to get a higher degree to help you grow in your career, then consider going back to school. Fortunately, taking classes has never been easier thanks to online universities. For example, if you’ve had your eye on a business degree but you never had the time to attend classes in person, an online program can help you achieve those dreams on your own schedule. Not only will getting a degree help your career, it will also provide you with a sense of satisfaction and pride.

Don't spend too much on a car

When you are purchasing a vehicle, the car payment itself isn't the only thing you should worry about. Many other costs associated with driving need to be accounted for in your budget, including the costs of gas, maintenance, repairs, and insurance. When it comes to insurance, your geographical location has a significant impact on your premium. Also, drivers under 30 typically pay more for auto insurance because they are considered a higher risk. Safety features such as airbags and automatic seat belts, as well as anti-theft devices can also affect your costs. Money Crashers offers a comprehensive list of demographics, car-related factors, and personal driving habits that can impact your insurance rates.

Be smart about debt

All those credit card offers in the mail are certainly tempting to young adults, but you need to be smart about taking on debt. Apply for only one credit card and use it responsibly. Don't rack up charges that you can't afford to pay off at the end of the month.

If you have taken on a lot of debt already and have multiple creditors, you need to start paying off your highest interest debt first. The sooner you pay off those high-interest cards or loans, the less interest you'll pay in the long run.

Check your credit report annually to make sure there are no errors. In a 10-year study by the Federal Trade Commission, they found 20 percent of credit reports contained errors. You're entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

Learn how to live on less

If you really want to start saving for your future, you need to earn more money and learn to live on less. Get a second job or take steps to improve your marketability in order to get a salary increase. Be willing to drive an older vehicle, live with roommates, or purchase clothes at thrift shops. Use coupons, search for sales, and don't get caught up in buying the latest and greatest of everything.

When you are young, time is on your side. The earlier you start saving, the longer your money will have to earn interest and grow. By saving as much as you can and avoiding debt, you can assure yourself of a prosperous future.

Photo via Pixabay article by Sheila Olson of fitsheila.com

It’s Summertime and Music Is in the Air!

One of the things I missed the most during the Pandemic is attending concerts. The good news is that live music is coming back!

Connecticut venues are slowly building their events calendars, and bands are announcing their tours. They have missed us, too! And now that warmer temps have arrived, we can also look forward to one of the best things about summer: listening to live music in natural settings while sharing a picnic with friends on a green meadow, at the seaside, or under the stars.

Here is a list of places you can enjoy live music this summer – and best of all, admission is free!

The Levitt Pavilion – Westport

Nestled behind the Westport Library in downtown Westport, you will find a beautiful venue. Sitting on the banks of the Saugatuck River, the Levitt boasts an ample sloping lawn with a professional stage and sound system, real bathrooms, and food and drink for sale. Each night boasts a different music genre, and even comedy acts! So, grab your chair, picnic blanket and some tasty treats and enjoy! This year registration is required so sign up today. Most shows are free, with a few fundraisers sprinkled in. https://www.levittpavilion.com/calendar/

C.H.I.R.P. - Ridgefield

Or: Concert Happenings in Ridgefield Parks. Barbara Manners has run this Ridgefield series for many years and curates a diverse range of music and performers. The concerts are held in Ballard Park on Main Street. The performances range from blues to folk to Irish music. Held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is something for everyone. If it rains, concerts are held in the adjacent Ridgefield Playhouse. Donations are welcome. If for whatever reason you cannot get to the show in person, every show is streamed on Facebook. https://chirpct.org/events/2021-concerts/

Rowayton Music Festival - Rowayton

This sleepy series starts on July 4th and runs through Labor Day. Shows are held at either Bayley Beach or Pinkney Park. Pick up a picnic dinner at Brendan’s 101, Rowayton Pizza, or the Rowayton Market, and enjoy the show. Rowayton’s music committee has brought many little-known acts to perform who went on to selling out large venues. Examples of these are Lake Street Dive, The Record Company, Lucius, and Billy Strings. Donations are welcome https://www.rowaytoncivicassociation.org/events/event-four-lgdna

Black Rock Porch Fest – Black Rock

At the end of August, residents of Black Rock in Bridgeport host a day of music on their porches or front lawns. Park your car and walk from house to house enjoying a variety of music from local performers. The “hosts” often have snacks and refreshments for the taking. This event is very well run and organized. https://www.facebook.com/blackrockporchfest/

Sherman Green Music Series – Fairfield

Popular local bands grace the gazebo at Fairfield’s Sherman Green. Pick up a bite from a local restaurant and enjoy live music all week long.

https://www.fairfieldct.org/Sherman-Green-Concert-Series-2021

Back Country Jazz - Greenwich

This free series is held at various back-country estates in Greenwich. Bennie Wallace, a talented sax player, curates an extraordinary roster of jazz musicians to come together and entertain. Drinks are provided in a bucolic setting. Contact Jeanette Wallace for more information or to sign-up. jeanette@backcountryjazz.org

Other Live Music Outdoor Venues

Several area venues are also working on excellent outdoor line ups! While not all of these shows are not free, they still offer a wonderful experience of live music under the stars. Here are some worth checking out as they bring and showcase world-class acts to the area.
 

Central Park Summerstage, Manhattan, NY.(free and benefit shows) https://cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage/

Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, NY. https://foresthillsstadium.com/

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT. https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/

Wall Street Theatre, Norwalk, CT. https://wallstreettheater.com/

Westville Music Bowl, Westville, CT. https://www.westvillemusicbowl.com/

I hope to see you there!

Living The Frugal Life + Loving It

I grew up learning how to make every penny count and about the value of a dollar. My family went to early bird movies, museums on days that they were free, and day camps offered by the parks or school system. I was well trained to be frugal.

Finding exciting, entertaining ways to enjoy life and have fun without breaking the bank is possible. Yes, you read that right! It is about living well but not spending a lot.  And being frugal is about money well spent. It is about value and making the most with what you have.

Favorite Tips for Living A Rich Life…With Cash to Spare!

• Volunteer: Do you have a passion for theatre, the arts, music? Volunteers are desperately needed by many groups. It might involve working an event, ushering, being a brand ambassador, or promoting an organization on social media. In exchange you can get tickets, attend sold out shows, earn merch and much more.

• Love Your Library: Libraries provide access to many resources—lectures by authors, classes, web-based educational offerings to improve skills, passes to museums, and of course movies and reading materials to borrow/stream.

• Buy Nothing: The Buy Nothing Project https://buynothingproject.org/ offers people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide network of hyper-local gift economies in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors. Join one in your community today.

• Be Bold: Ask for a free trial, a senior discount, a non-profit rate. Just ask and you may be surprised.

• Become a Product Tester: SocialNature.com provides access to free samples/discounts in exchange for reviews. Many sellers on Amazon.com advertise on Facebook and provide free products as well.

• Barter: Trade your skills for things or services you need.

• Take Advantage of Open Houses and Community Days: Many museums have free days/open houses. It is a great way to sample before buying.

• Deals: Check the deal websites such as Groupon to try a new salon, restaurant or book a trip.

About the Author
Micki Tiffen is an independent marketing consultant at Out of The Box Consulting, her Fairfield County, Connecticut -based consulting firm. She provides strategic consulting and marketing and sales support for a wide range of clients. Trained as an anthropologist, she approaches business issues from a unique 360-degree perspective, a convergence of art and science. http://www.frugalfairfield.com/more-about-micki
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickitiffen

https://literacytolegacymentors.net/living-the-frugal-life-loving-it/

https://literacytolegacymentors.net

Bloodroot's 40th Celebration March/April 2017

It’s hard to believe that 40 years ago, Selma and Noel decided to open a vegan/vegetarian restaurant and feminist bookstore on an impossible to find dead-end street in Bridgeport, CT. The year was 1977 - before GPS existed. We opened with no trained chefs, no wait staff and delicious food, a plan that suited the lesbian feminist owners!

It is 40 years later and we are planning a BIG celebration. To accommodate more people, we will hold celebration dinners over three nights Tuesday March 21st, Wednesday March 22nd & Thursday March 23rd. Similar to past anniversary dinners, we will be serving free champagne and holding a raffle. But in contrast, we ask you to make reservations to ensure everyone’s comfort.

But we have many other celebratory plans for March and April!

As part of our festivities, we want to draw attention to the other vegetarian only restaurants in CT. So we invited all of them! We are so pleased that the following restaurants wanted to participate and will be bringing some of their specialties and menus*. These are free events, but please make a reservation so we can know how many to expect. We will provide free coffee, tea and prosecco. 
Sunday March 5th - 4pm: Renana from It’s Only Natural in Middletown. 
Sunday March 12th - 4 pm: Ramesh from Navaratna in Stamford - they specialize in south Indian food which is entirely vegetarian
Sunday April 2nd - 4 pm: Chris from Fire and Spice in Hartford and Donaldson from Shandal in Bridgeport - both are from Jamaica and serve vegan food in the Rastafarian tradition
 Wednesday April 5th - 6pm: Claire from Claire’s Cornucopia in New Haven
Wednesday April 12th - 6pm: Owners Lisa and Glenn from Catch a Healthy Habit

We will be hosting a series of special art exhibits:
March 7 - 19: Noel & Selma are ardent weavers and have asked members of the Hand Weavers Guild of CT to curate a weaving show from March 7 - 19th. 
March 19 - 26: Noel’s new photographs will be on display
March 28 - April 9: Caroly Van Duyn will bring new sculptures which will be for sale PLUS you can meet the artist the evening of March 29th! 
 April 11 - 16: From our private collection, we will be displaying Myriam Fougere’s sculpture and ceramics. 
 April 18 - 23: Also from our private collection, we will feature Australian artist Suzanne Bellamy's sculpture. 
 April 25 - 30: Sudie Rakusin’s oil paintings from our private collection will be on display and you can meet Sudie the evening of the 28th

On Sunday March 26th at 4 pm, we look forward to hosting a conversation with Sheila Jeffreys, the renowned Australian feminist author of "The Spinster and Her Enemies", “Anticlimax", “Lesbian Heresy” and Beauty and Misogyny”. We hope you will make reservations to meet her.

Over the course of the 2 month celebration, there will be an extra reason to come visit us for Sunday Brunch - we will be holding a used book sale - just a penny per book!

Cooking classes - Classes are $30 per person and Class size is limited to 8, so reservations are essential! Classes will be held at 4 pm on the following Sundays:
March 19th: Carol Graham will teach her famous Jamaican Jerk sauce and sorrel drink
April 9th: Erica Garcia will demonstrate the fundamentals of Mexican cooking including cooking beans in an Olla de Barro, how to make Mexican red rice, and the secret to making the perfect tortilla
April 23rd: Rachel Portnoy pastry chef and co-owner of Chez Nous in Lee MA, will teach cooking vegan desserts
April 30th: Selma and Noel will host a cooking class titled "You ask for it” where they will show how to cook what you want to learn! Choose from vegan pie crust, mushroom walnut pate, simple vegan cheeses, chocolate cake or what? It’s your choice!

Plus more surprises to be announced! To make reservations for any of these events, call Bloodroot at 203-576-9168. If you get our answering machine, leave a message and we’ll call you back to confirm!

Located at : 

85 Ferris St

Bridgeport, Connecticut

http://www.bloodroot.com/

* Unfortunately G-Zen in Branford, Phali Too in New Haven, The Sweet Beet in Granby, The Stand Juice Company in Norwalk, Pure Alchemy Juice Bar in Wallingford and Lion’s Den Vegetarian in Hartford couldn’t make it, but we wanted to recognize their contribution to vegetarianism in CT.

Noel & Selma 1977

Selma & Noel 2016

Free Meeting Space at Total Wine & More

Searching for a meeting space for your next business event? Need a conference room for your club or association gathering? Host your group for free in our store education center, and treat your guests to a complimentary wine tasting (where available). Our flexible meeting space can accommodate groups large and small.

All Total Wine & More education centers are equipped with:

• LCD projectors and screen
• Speakers and microphones
• Podium, tables and chairs
• Water and soft-drink service (nominal fee)

Our meeting space is a venue for events as varied as the wines, beers and spirits we have on our shelves. We’ve hosted board retreats, non-profit outreach sessions, PTA assemblies, professional association seminars and shareholder meetings.

Groups
Any local business or club can reserve the room free of charge for up to two meetings a month. Please note, we do not allow the sale of products other than those sold in our stores. Users may not place any marketing or promotional materials for the meeting around our stores. This includes fliers, business cards, coin cans, etc. A

All meetings must be booked three weeks in advance, and may be held one hour after the store opens up to two hours before the store closes. Booking hours vary by location. Meetings may be booked for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. All classrooms are closed on days surrounding and including major holidays.
 
Total Wine & More provides public Wi-Fi access in all of its locations. Please note that Total Wine is not responsible if the system is down or has a slow processing speed during your meeting. You will need to bring your own laptop to hook up to the projector. There is no computer available for customer use.
 
Users may bring food or catering (where allowed by law), but we’ll need you to clean up after yourselves. Though cheese, crackers and bread are provided (where allowed by law) with our paid private class packages, we do not offer any catering services. All wine available in the room must be poured by a Total Wine & More team member in tasting portions associated with a complimentary or paid wine tasting. Under no circumstances will spirits be offered or poured.
 
Total Wine & More reserves the right to accept or decline a request at any time for any reason.
The use of the classroom is free and limited to availability. Access and use of the room is limited to the reserved time only.
A minimum of three weeks lead is required for any reservation.
A maximum of two meetings is permitted in a single location. Bookings at multiple locations and dates are permitted.
Total Wine & More will not allow minors under 21 in the classroom, even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Total Wine & More does not allow the use of the classroom for personal or business profit; this includes any charge for guests to attend the meeting or sales where money is exchanged for products or services. 

Classroom seated capacity varies by store. Attendees must not exceed the listed capacity of the room. Attendees that do not have a seat will be turned away.Classes are supervised and wines are poured by a Total Wine & More Team Member. Under no circumstances is self-pouring permitted. Tasting amounts vary by state law and will not exceed 2 oz.

Food of any type can be brought into the room, but no beverages other than coffee may be brought in. Discounted water and soft drinks are available for purchase at the store.
Supplies such as table cloths, plates, forks, etc. are not provided.

Total Wine & More does not permit the use of their computers. We are not responsible for troubles with the speed of the Wi-Fi or system failure during your presentation.
Blackout periods apply (two days prior to a major holiday, the weekend of a major holiday and during the last six weeks of the year).
 
One 30-minute complimentary wine tasting is offered for groups of 14 or more seated guests gathered for a meeting or group activity. We only offer wine for complimentary tastings.
The purchase of alcohol for the purposes of consumption or tasting while in the classroom is not permitted.

Room cleanup after the meeting is the responsibility of the group organizer.
Total Wine & More does not permit the tasting of more than eight types of wine within a two-hour timeframe. We do not offer or pour spirits for classes.
Total Wine & More can provide a selection of cheeses, bread and crackers as well as water with private classes. Catering and other outside food is also permitted.

 https://totalwine.eventready.com/eventrequest/

Free Meditation Series At Kaia Yoga

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=2148

These free, led sessions give us an opportunity to practice and discuss as a group.

Art of the Northeast Silvermine Arts Center

Opening Saturday 6/6 6-8 pm 

www.silvermineart.org

Art of the Northeast opening. Jam packed show, great social event and great food! Co-curated by Michelle Grabner, 2014 Whitney Biennial co-curator and co-founder of The Suburban and the Poor Farm & Brad Killam, co-founder The Suburban and the Poor Farm. - See more at: http://www.silvermineart.org/events/?id=343&yrmo=2015-06#sthash.sEttoxMA.dpuf

A Neu Night Out

Friday the 13th, a most auspicious day, was also the eve for Neu Nights at the Neuberger Museum at Purchase College.  

Now the Neuberger is a great place to visit even on an average Saturday afternoon. It has a great permanent contemporary art collection, African art, and revolving exhibits (last night had the art of Kuba from Central Africa which inspired Klimt apparently as well as dust bowl like photos by Mike Disfarmer).

Last night, however, was also a Neu Night. What's that? Well it's the convergence of great art, a ripping DJ from WFUV (last night was Rita Houston and Alisa Ali), mouth watering cheeses(pics below), veggies and passed hors d'oeuvres by Andy Burke(my favorite were the Vietnamese spring rolls), cocktails (last night I tried a Black Cat) and big dance party(see video).  Andy Burke is the "house" caterer but he also did my kids' bar mitzvahs and many other events. He is creative and down to earth--love, love his food. 

I always run into friends from the area and we all had a rip roaring time dancing with the crowd which included 20-80 year olds.

Last night was especially frugal as I was able to bring a friend in (usually $20) because of my WFUV membership, entered to win tix to a show at the Capitol and received a year membership to the Neuberger. Now that's value. 

What's neu?

The French Cheese Connection...

Burke Catering....

Can you feel the beat?!