Cotton Candy Fabrics stitching joy in Brookfield since 2018

Norwalk restaurants unite to feed families this holiday season

Milford glass studio heats up creativity 

Connecting through art: Annual Bridgeport Art Trail begins this week

Newly opened Downtown Bridgeport business offers variety of healthy foods and drink options

Yankee Ferry, the last Ellis Island passenger boat, is for sale. Here's a look at its rich history

connecticut

Brian Heyman

KALAHARI PIECE WITH SPONSOR BUG

Water rides, activities and food, all at one location. There's even a hotel so you never have to leave. It's Kalahari resorts and conventions located in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. Less than two hours from New York. Kalahari is a full service vacation destination that my family couldn't wait to visit from the moment you walk in. You'll experience the magic of their African themed resorts. After checking into our room, the next stop was the water park and don't worry, parents, the water park admission is included in your resorts stay and you'll definitely need more than one day because Kalahari is one of the largest indoor water parks in the country. It's 220,000 square feet of wet and wild fun at 84 degrees year round. I love the lazy river, the bull, right. If that's not enough. They also have an outdoor water park over there playing at the water park all day. Definitely works up an appetite and they have plenty of dining options. So what do you guys want to do next? Zip lining? Also the rope, of course, definitely the water park again. Listen, after all this, I'm gonna need to go to the spa. You can also play glow in the dark mini golf in the jungle or beat your family at over 250 games in the arcade. Whatever you do, it's safe to say you'll never want to leave. Yeah.

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LIFreeportroaedtrip718

Have you guys ever seen a whale before? Yeah, on TV, and youtube. Well, today we're gonna try to see one in real life. Yeah, good morning, everybody. Welcome aboard to Captain Lou Fleet's Atlantic Pearl. I'm Captain Nick. This is naturalist Steve. Welcome aboard guys. You guys ready to go whale in. Yes. So how many will do you usually see a day? Well, although there's no guarantee on average on my trips, I've seen 1 to 3. How do you know where to go to find the whale? Sometimes call out to other ships, see if there's been any sightings in the area? Otherwise we follow a route that we've been successful on before. If we don't see whales, what do we do on the tour during the trip? Besides looking for whales, we look for the marine life. Will we see any shots? There's a possibility. We, you know, we never know what we see, but we might lucky for us. Captain Lou Fleet has been giving tours since 1956. So we were only out in the Atlantic for about 20 minutes before we saw a school of dolphins. Look at the dolphin. It only got better after that because 30 minutes later, we spotted two whales that spent like the next 45 minutes hanging out with us. One of the main reasons they breach is to communicate. So it's possible when we saw that whale breach, uh it was trying to look for the other whale. This is definitely a boat trip that everyone should experience. Just remember to bring your jacket because it gets a little cold, your binocular. So you can see far and your patience because it could take a while. We're the Lanier family in Freeport on this road trip close to home.

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NJRoadTrip718full_2024-07-18-17-28-08

On this week's road trip close to home. We're taking you to the Wild West. Our park has been open since 1957. It is a Western reenactment park. We do about 22 to 24 shows a day. We really try and create an atmosphere that is, you walked back into the Wild West and you're, you're here and you can join the shootouts and you can watch these Western legends come back to life. And uh so we, we like to think of it almost as interactive theater, bringing these people into it. We just got our Wild West City stage show how that, but that was all the way with $10,000 worth of gold. No, it's three Y tool to help us out. We gotta get our first posse of the day sworn in deputies. Are you ready? Yeah. So on top of being shows, we also do different interactive activities for young Children, but also for adults. And uh and also we have plenty of museums and shops around. So it's uh it's an educational experience as well as uh an entertainment experience. OK. Look at that. We really try and be in character as much as possible where the Cowboys are always in character and they're always trying to reach out and whether they're good guys or bad guys, they're, uh, there's always going to be a different, unique experience for every customer that comes through the door.

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718WCrt_2024-07-18-06-25-07

Live the lake life for a day in a pontoon in Putnam County. How about it? News channel's Nikita Ramos shows us how to explore Lake Mayo Park on this road trip close to home, Lake Maye as picturesque as it gets. We try to make the experience very, very vacation like right from the minute you get there. Thanks to May Aac Marina. Your staycation starts. Now, we are on one of seven pontoon boats with May P Marina that you can rent and for everything that lake May that has to offer. Boating is one of the most relaxing activities people can do. And this family owned business gives you that chance with its fleet of pontoons. No experience required. We show you how to anchor it. We show you how to drive the boat back and forth to the dock. And if you need something you call, it's that simple. Once you're briefed full throttle, you're only going about five MPH. So you are cruising in these views, the sensation you got to be in on the water. I mean, look what we're doing right now. I mean, floating along, enjoying what we're having and it's effortless. Meac Marina is open six days a week to either walk in or reserve a pontoon with up to 12 people. It's a great way to live the local lake life for a day. But your staycation doesn't end there back at the dock and up the road is lake house restaurant and bar. It's a local business that serves up delicious Italian American dishes. We are topping the day off with a salmon risotto dish with incredible views on the water. Summer really doesn't get better than this on this road trip. Close to home in the attack. Nikita Ramos is 12.

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723CTmic_2024-07-23-05-58-57

Off the coast of Norwalk sits 25 small islands that historically had been a challenge for Mariners to navigate. Well, to guide sea captains. Lighthouses were built this week in Maiden Connecticut, we traveled to Sheffield Island and its lighthouse off the coast of Norwalk sits 53 acres known as Sheffield Island with its 156 year old beacon by the sea. So this is how you get to the uh how you get to the lighthouse. We're welcome with a stunning osprey. Now. Absolutely. Where was it built? It was this, this house was built in 1868 Smith, his wife and 12 Children lived in this small cottage on the island. In the early 1800 s Smith was the first lighthouse keeper. By the late 1850 s, Connecticut had become a bustling center for trade. So in 1867 congress ordered a new lighthouse be built and is it granted that it, it's made out of granite? They all the stone came out of Southington Connecticut out of the quarries there. And the building itself is stone, but the tower is cast iron. How many times a night would a 2 to 3 times he would come up. Now, understand, there's 50 steps from the base all the way to the tower. And he would have to go with a five gallon pail of kerosene at least three times a night to fill the lamp. So he would, he would build up the, the basin here. All right. And then, then that's what the chimney is. This is basically a chimney. Oh, it's gorgeous. The point of this ledge though basically so they can wash the windows. And the reason why you had to wash the windows was to keep the glass clear. So the Mariners could see the light. This lighthouse was not only made in Connecticut, but it's maintained here by Connecticut. Residents. Tell me why that's so important. It has such an important role in the in the city of Norwalk. All the materials that were, they were used for manufacturing and those finished products were moved in and out of the harbor. So they had to have a guiding light. Sheffield light was decommissioned in 1904. It no longer guides Mariners but thanks to the Norwalk Seaboard Association, it still stands as a once guardian by the sea. The Seaport Association offers cruises to the island and also is holding its annual fundraise at the Norwalk Oyster Festival, September 6th through the eighth. For more information, we have a link to their website at News twelve.com under features and Maiden Connecticut

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BK TEACUP 12 FINDSmp4

It's just down the stairs on the garden level of one Park slope apartment where one woman's trash becomes another woman's tea party treasure. We think it's so meaningful to take things that were of family significance and turn them into practical and functional things versus having them stuck in storage. Nearly 8000 pieces of upcycled China from all around the world line. The walls here at the Brooklyn tea cup where guests can take their tea party picks and design their very own candles, ring dishes and even cured trays. We have dinner plates, we have saucers, we have red plates, we have dessert plates, we have salad plates, we have Demi Tos cups, we have tea cups, we have cream soup bowls, we have serving bowls, all pieces they've collected from people downsizing, cleaning out or even grieving. I inherited some China that I remember having tea parties. Like, you know, pretend tea parties with my grandmother with when I was four or five years old. Do I want the service for 12 wedgewood set? You know, in my Brooklyn apartment? No, I don't have, I don't have room for it, but like I want to think about granny every time I'm, you know, using these pieces, it's an ode to nostalgia for young and old everywhere. Start with something that really appeals to you. And then we treasure, had to fill in the blanks with oriel's help. We got to Mixon and matching, sorting through dozens of pieces of delicate diverse china. Each piece with its own special story. It's a form of connection. It's a, it's a, it's a funny medium for connection to learn how to give new life to your old treasures. Head to News twelve.com in Park Slope. I'm Jordan Kisa.

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LoriGoliasRoadTripBruceMuseaumGreenwich

We are in the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Bruce has so much for just about everyone. So if you have small Children, we have live animals. We have turtles and fish and crustaceans. In our marine gallery, we have a model life size of a dinosaur that lived in Connecticut 200 million years ago. So we are in the golden hour, Jennifer Angus's new exhibition at the Bruce Museum. Jennifer Angus is what I would say, surprise and delight as you enter the cabin of curiosities, you feel like you're entering an old Victorian mansion with this elaborate ornate wallpaper. But as you get closer, you'll notice that these are actually all insects. These are real insects, thousands of them pinned in these geometric patterns on the wall. So this exhibit is devoted to the work of Andy Warhol, who's one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. He was a self promoter. If he were alive today, he probably would be one of the most famous influencers. The works that are on view are all small in scale and that is something that is really distinctive about this exhibition. One thing that's so fascinating about that is that Warhol is known for his more monumental work and yet he was producing many of the same subjects at a very small and intimate scale. And what that does for our visitors is it provides a really intimate viewing experience and perhaps a new understanding of Warhol's overall uh career. He was extremely creative. He was a real talent. He was very diversified. His art changed over time. Warhol is, is probably best known for the way that he adapted the photographic silkscreen technique and the way he used that was that he, he appropriated images and was able to mass produce images but also to create unique works in multiple iterations. And I think by working on a smaller scale, Warhol was able to really expand those ideas and produce even more work. Um And the flowers is the perfect example of that idea because he produced more than 900 canvases devoted to the single theme. The most surprising thing in this exhibition are seeing some of his religious themed works. So we have a series of paintings on display um that were painted at the very end of his life Commemorating Leonardo Da Vinci's the Last Supper. And a lot of those works um are sort of enmeshed with the A I DS epidemic that was happening in the 19 eighties. This exhibit is a regional high school um ju exhibit that we have every year called I Create and People Do Flock here to see the art because it's so they're just so talented. It's very impactful to um see an image and then read what the student was thinking, why they created it. Come here, cool down, enjoy art. Bring your kids, they can, you know, go outside into the park and see King Nyani, our gorilla. So there's a lot to do, especially on a hot day. Come to the Bruce.

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BKBRIDGEKAYAK71124NOON_2024-07-11-13-02-23

Looking to beat the heat this summer while also taking in some great views. You're gonna wanna get over to the Brooklyn Bridge Park News Twelve's Nadia Galindo shows us how you can kayak for free in this road trip. Close to home a day of kayaking is calling at Pier Two in Brooklyn Bridge Park where you can wade into the East River while taking in majestic views of New York City and it's all for free. Just a wonderful um wonderful area to be able to kayak here. You know, you get such great views of the river Yon is with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy which runs this program with the help of volunteers in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. We can do both single kayaks and double kayaks. They offer free kayaking to the public every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. It's open to adults and kids under the age of 18 with a parent or guardian present. No prior experience is required. You are in a protected embayment just because there is a lot of traffic coming through with other boats. This urban water adventure draws hundreds of people every week from near and far so fun. Yeah, it's lovely. On a hot day. Super breezy. I got to paddle around. I learned how to hold a paddle. It was good. I put on a life vest and get my chance to try my hand at kayaking. I slide into the kayak, then head out to open water with the help of a volunteer. And when you're finally in this position, you will discover the air is cooler and the splashing water is refreshing. This perspective will help you leave behind the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn and find serenity on the East River. Kayaking at pier two is popular. So it's important to register in advance. You can do that on the Brooklyn Bridge Park website. Reservations, open two weeks in advance reporting from the Brooklyn Bridge Park. I'm Nadia Galino News 12 Brooklyn.

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Here's a look at all the great spots to hit from this week's episode of Road Trip Close to Home.

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