In the spirit of our tech-driven times, I am honored to bring you the fourth installment of Hill-Stead’s Three Good Things to Do on this first day of June.
1Come Fly Away with Us on June 11 & 12 and July 9 & 10 for a series of gala dinners to benefit Hill-Stead. Enjoy four evenings of delicious cultural cuisine from area chefs, inspired by Theodate Pope Riddle’s extensive travels to Europe and collection of souvenir postcards. These beautiful affairs include multi-course dinners with wine pairings, top-notch entertainment, and post-reception house tours. Select to sit at a safe distance among friends or with your guest at a stand-alone table. Bask in the glory of our outdoor masterpiece, where you’ll feel as though you are in some exotic locale with the backdrop of rolling hills and a stunning sunset taking center stage. Guests who purchase tickets at the Monet’s Circle level will enjoy a Champagne reception and a tethered balloon ride (weather permitting), taking in the stunning views of Hill-Stead’s landscape and the Farmington Valley. We will gratefully recognize them in the event program.
2 Building on last year’s extraordinary success, From the Porch, our multicultural performing arts series returns this summer. Join us for the season opener this coming Saturday, June 5th, for a day of discovery with a Juneteenth celebration featuring regional Black artists, organizations, and businesses. The experiential events will run as long as the weather holds and be open to audiences of all ages. In keeping with the Pope-Riddle family’s tradition of bringing literary, musical, and educational opportunities to the community,
Hill-Stead’s From the Porch not only brings arts to the public but acts as a fundraiser for the Museum to sustain the dynamic cultural destination into the future. From the Porch, programming is listed here on Hill-Stead’s Calendar.
3Join us for Young Poets Day of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival featuring award-winning poet Chen Chen and the 2021 winners of Hill-Stead’s Fresh Voices Poetry Competition. This outstanding program offers students the opportunity to write and perform poems suitable for presentation and publication. Since 1993, student poets from all corners of Connecticut have entered this competition. The Fresh Voices Poetry Competition is open to all New England high school students. The Festival will take place on Hill-Stead’s expansive and picturesque West Lawn. Bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic.
A special thanks to Hill-Stead’s Fresh Voices judges, sponsors, and donors, especially the Goldfarb Family and the Ellen Jean Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust, with additional support from Becky & Tom Trutter.
I am eager to hear from you. Please email brettb@hillstead.org or post a comment to our social media channels.
Best always,
Beth
Beth Brett, Chief Advancement Officer
JaMara “Mara” Jean is a rising senior who currently attends The Westover School. Mara has been writing poetry since she was in the 5th grade. During some time in the 7th grade, Mara was handpicked by a teacher to write, memorize, and perform at a Slam Poetry Show. When she began high school, she took part in her first production ever, Much Ado About Nothing. Since then, she’s acted in seven productions at her school and is currently the First Drama Head. She can thank her theatrical knowledge and ability to the many productions she has been in thus far and her poetic ability to both her teacher in 7th grade who encouraged her to write slam poetry and Thomas Juvan, who taught her everything she has learned about poetry at Westover. 
Valli Pendyala is a sophomore at South Windsor High School. She is a member of her school’s mock trial and Model United Nations teams, and she is the president of the Sexuality and Gender Alliance. Valli is also a member of South Windsor Future Leaders in Politics. Over the summer, Valli plans to attend the National Student Leadership Conference Political Action & Public Policy program. Valli is passionate about participating in the political process and advocating for issues she is passionate about, both locally and nationally. In her spare time, Valli enjoys reading, spending time with her sister, and learning about history. She is currently working for her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, and has previously earned her Silver Award. Valli plans to major in political science and economics.
Cindy Truong is a senior at Platt High School in Meriden and the Educational Center for the Arts, where she studies creative writing. She will be attending New York University this upcoming fall and plans to major in English. Cindy finds inspiration in her Vietnamese heritage and culture along with her Vietnamese-American experience. She’d like to give her biggest gratitude to her teachers and workshop at ECA, for being the place that nurtured her and allowed her to find her voice.
Hill-Stead Museum and Farmington Continuation Education join together to offer a unique summer camp experience for students, grades 2 through 8, from Farmington, Hartford, New Britain, and Plainville, August 2–13, weekdays from 8 am to 3 pm.
Hill-Stead proudly announces the 2021 Fresh Voices Poetry Competition Finalists!
