Flying By by Del-Bourree Bach - acrylic; 9 x 17 inches framed; 2026. Contemporary realist Del-Bourree Bach of Mystic, CT is known for his striking, almost tactile, depictions of man and nature. While many of his paintings are inspired by the sea, he also finds subjects in rural farms, western vistas, and city streets, inviting viewers to enter the scene and create their own stories. Primarily a studio painter, Bach works mainly in acrylic and is a master in both the National Oil and Acrylic Painters and the International Society of Acrylic Painters. His work is held in numerous public and private collections, including the Florence Griswold Museum and the U.S. Coast Guard Art Collection. In 2016 he was awarded Best Acrylic Painting in the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Best of America and achieved Master Status, an honor shared by only a dozen living artists.

Barbara Lussier of East Haddam, CT is a contemporary landscape painter whose work embraces the traditions of the Old Lyme and American Hudson River School painters, honoring nature and working from direct observation. Her landscapes explore the romance of color and light and have been described as poetry. Lussier holds a BFA with high honors from the University of Hartford, where she studied with Rudolph Zallinger and Paul Zimmerman. She has also studied at the Ringling School of Art and Lyme Academy. An elected member of the Copley Society of Art, Lyme Art Association, Rockport Art Association, and Hudson Valley Art Association, her work has received numerous awards and is held in private and corporate collections.

A descendant of Gaugin, Pierre Marie Brisson is a French contemporary artist whose work draws upon centuries of art history, combining ancient motifs, modernist imagery, and contemporary sensibility. Born in Orleans, France in 1955, Brisson studied with French painter Bernard Saby before moving to Paris, where he studied etching at the Pasnic Workshop. His richly layered works incorporate bold patterns and organic forms inspired by nature and the human body, reflecting his fascination with archaeological time and artistic tradition. Brisson's work has been exhibited internationally and is held in such collections as the Cartier Foundation, Jewish Museum of New York, and National Library of France.

Morning on the Lieutenant River by Eileen Eder - oil; 10 x 20 inches, 14.5 x 25.5 inches framed. Eileen Eder is a contemporary realist painter who works almost exclusively from life, capturing the interplay of light, shadow, color, and form in nature and still life. A Connecticut resident, Eder earned an MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 1998 and has worked as a professional painter and teacher ever since. After focusing on still life for many years, she developed a passion for plein air painting, studying with influential artists including T. Allen Lawson, Don Demers, and Israel Hershberg. Eder's landscapes and still lifes have been frequent award winners in national and local exhibitions.

Afterglow by Janine Robertson - oil on aluminum; 10 x 18 inches, 14.5 x 22.5 inches framed. Janine Robertson is a prolific, award-winning Connecticut artist who paints luminous landscapes on aluminum and copper. Her paintings are known for their vibrant color, texture, and glow. She began her career as a muralist and trompe l'oeil painter but has since turned her full attention to landscape oil painting. Her work hangs in private collections throughout the United States.

Lester Johnson (1919-2010) was known for creating paintings that seemed to be in motion. As a member of the New York School of painters in the 1950s, Johnson belonged to a group of artists who emerged during the rise of abstraction but formed a niche of their own: expressionist figurative painters. Johnson maintained the human figure as his primary subject, often drawing inspiration for his active compositions from his neighborhood of 1950s Bowery, New York. His work is held in such prestigious collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Bee Bee by Ralf Feyl - oil on linen; 8 x 8 inches, 9.5 x 9.5 inches framed; 2025. Ralf Feyl studied with the respected Bill Parks at the American Academy of Art in Chicago before traveling east to study at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Art. Here he became inspired by the mysterious borderlands of the New England coast and the people who inhabit it. The Cooley Gallery offered Feyl his first exhibition in 1992, and he has shown his work there ever since. Now residing and working in Maine, Feyl has over 20 solo exhibitions to his credit. His work is found in hundreds of private and corporate collections across the globe, including Deutsche Bank, Boeing, Swedish Trade Council, and Pfizer. His work is also featured in the Museum's permanent collection.

Connecticut artist Anna Held Audette discerned loveliness in decay, creating large oil paintings of the disused factories, machines, and scrapyards that are America's ruins. As a painter, printmaker, and educator, her work explored the stark beauty and history of the built environment. Born in New York City, Audette studied at Smith College and the Yale School of Art before teaching art at Southern Connecticut State University. Her work is held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, and she was also the author of several books, including The Blank Canvas: Inviting the Muse. A posthumous exhibition celebrating her work -- Abandon in Place: The Worlds of Anna Audette -- was presented by the Florence Griswold Museum in 2023.

Floating Web by Pat Smith - ink, thread, and paper; 25 x 19.5 inches framed. Born in Manchester, England, Pat Smith discovered her passion for art while living in Paris in the 1960s, where she studied at the ateliers of Francine del Pierre and Jean Lugassy. After relocating to New York's Soho in the 1980s, Smith began creating open, woven structures from paper-thin strips of porcelain and experimenting with new materials and techniques, such as watercolor and cyanotype. These explorations expanded her use of line, transparency, and texture. Smith moved to Old Lyme in the late 1990s, where she established a studio while continuing to spend part of each year in Paris.

Connecticut-based artist Anita Soos has explored the rhythms and patterns of the natural world through photography, charcoal drawing, and color oil monotypes for more than forty years. Her Cadence series reflects her fascination with the movement and repetition found in water, rivers, oceans, and trees, as well as the ever-changing effects of light and atmosphere. Working in layers of color, Soos creates expressive compositions that capture the fleeting, never-to-be-repeated moments found in nature. She has exhibited extensively throughout Connecticut, where she lives and works.

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Crista Pisano began painting in oils in 1989 under the instruction of John Phillip Osborne at the Ridgewood Art Institute. She has her BFA in Painting from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and an MFA in Painting from the New York Academy Graduate School of Figurative Art. Known for her small-scale paintings, Pisano paints landscapes primarily en plein air, working from her studio in Nyack, NY. She has exhibited throughout New England and New York and received numerous awards and honors for her work.

Florence Griswold House - November by Barbara Maiser - oil, 12 x 10 inches framed. Best known for her appealing still lifes and en plein air landscapes in oils and watercolor, Barbara Maiser studied at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. She is also an elected artist of the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Connecticut Watercolor Society and the Lyme Art Association. Her paintings are in private collections across the U.S. and abroad and are held in the permanent collection of the New Britain Museum of American Art. She is also the author of Artist's Projects You Can Paint - 10 Watercolor Tablescapes Loose and Light and a contributing artist for How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Still Life and Florals, both published by International Artist Publishing.

Danielle Mailer, the daughter of American author Norman Mailer, studied at the New York Studio School and School of Visual Arts. She has exhibited in galleries and museums throughout North America and was honored with a retrospective at the Mattituck Museum in 2009. She was also included in the traveling retrospective, The Tides of Provincetown, produced by the New Britain Museum of American Art. Mailer has completed numerous large-scale public art projects, including four permanent works in Connecticut's Northwest Corner and four wall pieces commissioned by Boston Children's Hospital. Her most ambitious project is a 200 x 20 foot mural installation facing the Naugatuck River. Mailer divides her time between creating art and teaching at The Salisbury School in Salisbury, CT. She is represented by the Berta Walker Gallery in Provincetown, MA and maintains a gallery in her hometown of Goshen, CT.

An award-winning artist working in pastel and watercolor, Judy Perry is inspired by the ocean, nature, and the abundant colors found along the shorelines of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. Her formal training began more than 30 years ago, studying Fine Art and Special Education at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Upon moving to Old Saybrook in 1996, she began painting professionally. A near fatal head-on automobile collision with a drunk driver left her with an uncertain future in 2009. She began painting ocean and marsh scenes reflecting the beauty of the East Coast shoreline -- which became an act of healing. Her works have won many awards, including the Master Pastelist Award from the International Association of Pastel Societies. Among other associations, she is also a member of the Lyme Art Association, Connecticut Pastel Society, and Pastel Society of America.

Known for her sensuous landscapes and deft brushwork, Katherine Simmons is an accomplished Connecticut artist whose work has been featured in The Pastel Journal, American Artist, and Connecticut Magazine. A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art, Simmons continued her studies with master classes in oil painting and pastel. She is an Elected Artist Member of the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Connecticut Women Artists, Lyme Art Association, Salmagundi Club, and Oil Painters of America. Simmons has twice received First Place in the Annual Elected Artist Exhibition at the Lyme Art Association.

Oscar F. Bluemner worked as an architect in Germany and the United States before turning to painting full time in 1911. A frequent visitor to Alfred Stieglitz's pioneering 291 gallery in New York, Bluemner became part of its circle of modern artists. His paintings combined prismatic forms with boldly saturated colors, reflecting both his architectural training and his belief in the emotional power of color. Inspired by the idea that color could evoke feelings and moods much as music does, Bluemner developed a distinctive system of color symbolism in his work. Bluemner now is widely acknowledged as a key player in the creation of American artistic Modernism.

A visionary American artist, Charles E. Burchfield was known for his passionate -- often fantastical-- watercolors of nature scenes and townscapes that reflected distinctly American subjects and a profound respect for nature. His paintings are in the collections of many major museums and have been the subject of exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, among others. The largest collection of Burchfield's paintings, archives, and journals are in the collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, NY, where a Xerox copy of this original doodle is held.

A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, artist Mary Maguire was a former book editor at Knopf and Random House who also maintained a small design business illustrating for Newsweek and Good Housekeeping. She developed special projects for Conde Nast publications and served as features editor of Lauren, a lifestyle magazine produced by designer Ralph Lauren. Her last stint as editorial director of The Muppets for the Jim Henson Company foretold of the many fantastical creatures she would soon paint. She later moved to the Connecticut shoreline and reinvented herself as an antique art dealer. Working from her waterfront studio in Hadlyme, Maguire often pairs her original watercolors and hand-colored antique fine-art prints with one-of-a-kind vintage frames. Works similar to the one up for bid have been featured in Vogue, House Beautiful, and Architectural Digest.

Born and raised in suburban New Jersey, Catherine Christiano took an unconventional path to studio art. Her analytical strengths initially led her to earn degrees in engineering and finance, while working for organizations including GE and Deloitte. Outside of work, she developed her skills in art-making, eventually studying at the National Academy of Design School in New York City and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, where she earned her BFA in 2001. Catherine had her first solo museum exhibition in 2022 at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. She has participated in group exhibitions at regional museums, universities, and galleries, including the New Britain Museum of American Art and George Billis Gallery in New York and Los Angeles. In 2023, she received an Artist Fellowship Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Lori Neumann studied at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and works in a variety of mediums including pastels, oil, acrylics, and fiber arts. She is a member of the CT Pastel Society, the Vermont Pastel Society, the Central Massachusetts Pastel Society, as well as the American Impressionist Society. Her work is shown regularly at the Lyme Art Association, the Madison Art Society, The Red House Cultural Arts Center, and other galleries. Her other passion is enjoying the antics of the animals on her Salem, CT farm, which include horses, sheep, angora goats, a pig, a donkey, and a smattering of chickens.

Often described as a contemporary Audubon, artist-naturalist James Prosek has exhibited his work at such prestigious institutions as the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. He has also served as artist-in-residence at the Yale University Art Gallery, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Addison Gallery of American Art. Author of more than a dozen books, Prosek has written for The New York Times and National Geographic, and he received the 2012 Gold Medal for Distinction in Natural History Art from the Academy of Natural Sciences. You may remember Prosek's hand-painted silhouette-style mural of Connecticut flora and fauna featured prominently in the Florence Griswold Museum's 2019 exhibition, Fragile Earth.

A native of Chicago, Helen Cantrell studied painting at the Washington University of Fine Arts in St. Louis, MO. In 1968, she moved to New York City, where she attended the Art Students League. She has lived along the Northeastern coast for the past 40 years, currently in Old Lyme. She discovered printmaking at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT, where she learned about etching, lithography, and woodcuts. She is now an elected member of the Silvermine Guild of Artists, and her works have been displayed in many local solo and group exhibitions. Her work is currently featured in the Florence Griswold Museum's 2026 juried exhibition, Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250.

Ed Lent is a Connecticut-based artist, poet, and the inaugural Poet Laureate of Madison, CT (2024). Recipient of the Connecticut Arts Hero Award (2020), he is founder of the Ekphrastic Poetry Trust of Connecticut and is recognized for building community through programs, workshops, and exhibitions that unite visual art and writing. His artwork and poetry have been exhibited throughout Connecticut galleries, libraries, and arts organizations. In 2026, Lent's piece Libertas Enlightening the World was selected for the Patchwork exhibition at the Florence Griswold Museum, on view through November 2026.

Joyce McAdams has been a working and exhibiting artist for over 35 years whose work intricately combines painting and collage-like imagery. From her jewel-like paintings, she also creates tile murals and installations, fabrics, clothing, scarves, tile murals, and fine giclee prints. A Massachusetts native who studied at Rhode Island School of Design and University of New Hampshire, she has participated in over 60 solo and group exhibits in museums and galleries across the country. She regularly gives workshops and exhibits in fairs and festivals around the South and East Coast. She works out of her home studio in Edgewater, FL.

Skip Hine is an award-winning commercial photographer who spent his career shooting for clients in his NYC studio and around the world. A short list of his notable subjects includes President Gerald Ford, Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Arthur Ashe, and Ivan Lendl. Now living full-time in Lyme, Montmartre Paintbrushes was originally published in his book, Memories in Hinesight - My Life With a Camera. He is now devoting his time shooting personal work for his upcoming book, In Hinesight - Eyes Wide Open.

Laurie Gavitt is inspired by the ever-changing textures, colors, patterns, light, and shadows of all things by the sea, working primarily in watercolor and other water media. As well as being a devoted painter, Laurie Gavitt is also an active member of her local artist community. From 1998 to 2004, she taught and mentored members of the Ninigret Art Guild in Charleston, RI, offering weekly painting groups. She has received numerous awards and recognitions and was honored as an Artist in Residence at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI, in 2012. Gavitt is currently a working artist member of the Artist Cooperative Gallery in Westerly, RI.

Born in Israel, Jac Lahav grew up in Boston and studied painting at the School of Visual Arts and The Cooper Union and received his MFA from Brooklyn College. Lahav's complex works investigate narratives of trauma, repair, and growth and often seek to examine under-recognized cultural histories. The Florence Griswold Museum hosted a solo exhibition of his cheeky and thought-provoking large-scale portraits of iconic cultural figures in 2019, titled The Great Americans: Portraits of Jac LaHav. Other solo museum shows have included the Richmond Art Museum in Indiana; Longview MFA in Texas; Saginaw Art Museum in Michigan. His work is also held in many public collections, including the Jewish Museum in Milwaukee, Mount Holyoke Art Museum, the FloGris, and more. You can also see his work featured in the Florence Griswold Museum's juried exhibition, Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250, on view now.

Every serigraph produced by Erick Sahler is an original work of art as each is made by hand, one color at a time, using the age-old process of silkscreen printing. Sahler is a Salisbury, MD native who graduated with a degree in graphic design in the pre-computer era when everything -- illustrations, typography, design -- was created by hand. He is a member of New York's distinguished Society of Illustrators and an American Screen Printing Association-certified graphic artist and screen printer.

Mally DeSomma has been an artist for more than 35 years whose work has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions and received many awards. For over twenty years DeSomma has taught pastels, acrylics, and oils to adults and children at Artsplace, a private art school in Cheshire, CT, and is now one of the anchor teachers there. She has also taught oils and pastels at the University of Connecticut Waterbury campus and privately in her own studio in Waterbury, CT.

Drawing inspiration from her New England upbringing and love of the sea, Tammy Blais creates stylized palette knife paintings designed to bring a sense of "happy" to your walls. Her minimalist approach incorporates a limited palette of hand-mixed oil colors, sometimes with bits of mixed media, accented by strategic pops of complementary color. She exhibits her work at art festivals and galleries throughout the year and is a member of the Artists' Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, Wickford Art Association, Essex Art Association, and Mystic Museum of Art.

Their Kindred Earth: Photographs by William Earle Williams was a watershed exhibition at the Florence Griswold Museum in 2025. As our Artist in Residence for 2023-2025, Williams traveled to the corners of Old Lyme and Connecticut, photographing little-known sites significant to enslavement, emancipation, and African Americans' contributions to state history. Through the elegant and profound beauty of Williams' photography, his work seeks to reveal the presence and lived experience of enslaved people within these familiar scenes. We are proud to have partnered with Williams on a project that built upon his lifelong commitment to documenting hidden histories of Black America through his artistic work, and we are honored to be able to share with the winner this special print of Williams' work from that important exhibition.

A meaningful, custom-framed photographic print, Monument, Freedom's Crossing, New York City, 2024 is offered by the artist. The winner will also receive a special edition of the award-winning exhibition catalogue for Their Kindred Earth, which has been hand bound in cloth over boards. Only 26 special copies exist, designated A-Z. Signed by the artist, this is Copy G (which stands for Griswold).

This package also includes a $100 gift card to the enchanting de Gerenday's Fine Art Materials and Curiosities on the campus of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. Browse for the finest art materials -- all hand-selected by their renowned faculty -- and exquisite giftable objects from around the globe.

Add a little whimsy to your collection with this one-of-a-kind mixed-media sculpture (perfect for hanging) by acclaimed sculptor Serena Bates.

Based in Ashaway, RI, Bates is known for work that captures the spirit and humor of everyday life. She studied traditional figure painting, anatomy, and sculpture at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and trained with influential artists such as Elizabeth Gordon Chandler, Laci deGerenday, Dean Keller, and Philippe Faraut, whose guidance helped shape her intuitive, wabi-sabi approach to sculpting.

This vibrant pair of sunflower sculptures was carved and painted by chainsaw artist Jared Welcome of Jarebear Chainsaw Art. Originally commissioned by the Florence Griswold Museum for the 2025 Wee Faerie Village, Gardener's Grove. These cheerful sunflowers bring a playful, garden-inspired presence to any setting.

Please note that both bases have cracks in the wood; see photos for condition.

Sherry Block, a metal sculptor and welding instructor at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, has crafted this sculpture in tribute to Artemisia, an ancient naval commander and strategist. Composed of richly varied metals, the work has a playful yet commanding presence that will add a touch of artful whimsy to any home.

The winner receives a private narrated cruise for up to four (4) guests aboard Seabird -- a classic New England Dyer 29 picnic boat departing from Saybrook Point Resort & Marina. Your hosts will be Christopher Arelt (AIA Principal of Nautilus Architects) and Captain Chip Adams (owner of Seabird Cruises and expert guide of the Connecticut River). You'll also enjoy an exclusive viewing of an award-winning Nautilus Architects waterfront residence.

This experience also includes a delicious catered lunch at the Hamburg Cove Yacht Club overlooking the harbor.

To be scheduled by mutual agreement; subject to weather and vessel availability.

Value: One of a kind!

Experience a private tour of the Shaker collection at the New Britain Museum of American Art with Dr. M. Stephen Miller, a world-renowned Shaker scholar, collector, and curator.

Dr. Miller has spearheaded the NBMAA's dedicated Shaker Gallery and written extensively about Shaker history, craftsmanship, and community.

Included in this package are two of his books (From Shaker Lands and Shaker Hands and Inspired Innovations: A Celebration of Shaker Ingenuity). These publications have served as key resources for researchers, providing detailed context on how Shaker religious principles led to the creation of their highly distinct, functional aesthetic.

Tour group must not exceed six (6) guests. Tours must occur at a mutually agreed upon time during regular museum hours during the upcoming exhibition Canterbury Shaker Masterworks and the Art of Douglas Deveney opening January 14, 2027 and are to be arranged at least two (2) weeks in advance.

Value: One of a kind!

The winning bidder will receive a fall or spring landscape cleaning service at their property, courtesy of Tate's Property Care in Essex. This service will include approximately 4 hours of labor with a highly trained landscape crew. Date to be mutually agreed upon. No heavy equipment. Also included is a $50 gift card to Van Wilgen's Garden Center in North Branford.

Experience it for yourself with two tickets to an upcoming presentation of your choice during Carnegie Hall's 2026-2027 season (which runs October 2026 through June 2027).

The list of available concerts will be available after the season begins in October.

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the Yale University Art Gallery - followed by lunch at the famed private club, Mory's!

The winning bidder will receive a private tour of Yale's extraordinary American fine art collection for up to six (6) people hosted by Mark D. Mitchell, the Holcombe T. Green Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture.

The Gallery's American Art Collection has been among the best in the country since the museum's founding in 1832 by the landmark gift of paintings of the American Revolution by John Trumbull. Highlights include early masterworks by Benjamin West and John Singleton Copely, marvelous landscapes by Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and Albert Bierstadt, canonical realism by Thomas Eakins and Winslow Homer, and modernist gems by Georgia O'Keefe, Edward Hopper, and more.

The winner will also receive a copy of Dr. Mitchell's gorgeous coffee table book, The Dance of Life: Figure and Imagination in American Art, 1876-1917.

Following the tour, relax over lunch at Mory's -- a Yale tradition since 1849, located in the heart of Yale University. Winner receives a $250 gift certificate; no expiration date. Advance reservations required.

Tour limited to six (6) guests. Tour to be held at a mutually agreed upon day and time during regular museum hours, Tuesday-Friday. Must be reserved at least two weeks in advance.

Value: One of a kind!

Enjoy a private cooking class with chef Nancy Kirkiles-Smith at the Weekend Kitchen in Essex for up to six people.

Kirkiles-Smith is not only the owner of Weekend Kitchen, an eclectic kitchen and home store full of ever-changing finds. She is also a research scientist at a small biotech firm in CT who holds a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry! Her popular classes focus on healthy, mostly plant-based, menus. The menu will be based on your discussion with the chef -- so it's exactly what you want!

Menu and date to be mutually agreed upon; weeknights only. BYOB.

Immerse yourself in a magical evening at the New York City Ballet!

The winner will receive two tickets to the repertory performance of your choice during the 2026-2027 repertory season at Lincoln Center. Performance selection is subject to ticket availability. Valid September 2026 through May 31, 2027. Some restrictions may apply, based on availability.

This package includes one foursome of golf and two carts at the Old Lyme Country Club. Analyze your game afterwards with lunch for four at the club (up to $100.00). Alcoholic beverages and gratuity not included. Proper attire and advance reservations required.

Good through November 30, 2026.

The winning bidder will receive two one-hour private lessons with internationally-recognized yoga trainer Chrissy Carter in your home.

These sessions are appropriate for all levels and are tailored to your specific needs and goals, whether you're brand new to yoga or interested in deepening your practice.

With over twenty years of experience, Chrissy has certified and mentored some of the industry's leading yoga teachers. Her teaching style focuses on alignment and inspires an appreciation for the mechanics, anatomy, and philosophy of the practice. Chrissy is a visiting master teacher at THE WELL in New York City and has served as a guest teacher at Columbia University. She also teaches workshops and retreats around the country, stars in two Gaiam DVDs, and has been featured in The New York Times and Yoga Journal Magazine.

Advance notice required, date to be mutually agreed. Valid through September 2027.

Enjoy two subscriptions to the Essex Winter Series' Golden Jubilee season. All four concerts (held monthly January-April 2027) will celebrate Beethoven's legacy with classical and jazz performances.

Enjoy Beethoven 200: In Close Conversation (January 31, 2027) featuring violinist Todd Philips, violist Daniel Phillips, cellist Marcy Rosen, and flutist Tara Helen O'Connor --with special guest pianist Mihae Lee; Beethoven 200: Echoes of Swing (February 21, 2027) brings together Jeff Barnhart, Vince Giordano, and The Anniversary All-Stars; Beethoven 200: Returning to the Source (March 21, 2027) highlights 2026 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition Grand Prize winner, the woodwind quintet ZaRiah; and Beethoven 200: Music in Motion (April 11, 2027) blends music and media with string quartet, The Dolphins, and pianist Marina Iwao. It will also include a screening of Buster Keaton's silent film, College, with a live score by Stephen Prutsman.

All concerts are held on Sundays at 3 pm at either Valley Regional High School or John Winthrop Middle School, both in Deep River. Please refer to the concert web page for details. Programs and venues are subject to change. Must contact box office to redeem by December 1, 2026.

Enjoy a 9-hole round of golf for four at the historic Fenwick Golf Course in Old Saybrook -- Connecticut's oldest and most historic public golf course!

A delicious picnic lunch will be provided by Matthew and Martha Myers. To be offered on a mutually agreed upon date organized at least two weeks in advance. Expires September 26, 2027.

• 4 tickets (2 adults/2 youth) to the Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA -- the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast. Good through June 24, 2027.
• 4 tickets to the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT. Set within 152 acres of breathtaking natural beauty, Hill-Stead boasts an extraordinary collection of Impressionist and decorative arts (including works by Monet, Degas, and Cassatt) and exquisite gardens to explore. Good through September 30, 2027.
• 1 Family Pass (2 adults/2 children) to the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Connecticut's only zoo is home to more than 300 animals from North and South America --including endangered species like the Andean condor, maned wolf, giant anteater, and more. Good through April 29, 2027. Includes $100 Zoobucks certificate to be used at the Zoo's gift shop or food venues.

The winning bidder will receive either a private 2-hour yoga session with postural analysis for one person OR a private "ropes" yoga class for five people -- led by yoga instructor Mimi Brainard at Root Yoga in Hadlyme.

Root Yoga is an intimate studio focusing on spinal health and safe yoga catered to your specific needs. Brainard is certified in Yoga for Scoliosis and Back Care Yoga.

All sessions must be held in studio and will be scheduled for a mutually agreed upon date. Valid through June 2027.

The winning bidder will receive a dining experience valued at up to $250 to Todd English's Tuscany restaurant (newly refreshed!) at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino -- featuring authentic Italian dishes and scenic dining by the indoor Taughannick waterfall.

Gratuity not included. Reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance.

The winner receives two tickets to any performance at the critically-acclaimed Side Door jazz club, which features the biggest names in jazz. You'll also enjoy an intimate dinner for two at the club's home base - the historic Old Lyme Inn.

Advance reservations are required, subject to availability. Does not include service fee or gratuities. Good through December 31, 2026.

The winning bidder will receive two tickets to any TheaterWorks Hartford performance during the subscription season. No expiration date.

TheaterWorks produces 5-6 productions each season of innovative, contemporary plays in its newly-renovated historic auditorium. Tickets are based on availability and must be reserved in advance.

The winning bidder will enjoy a 2-hour Sunset Tree Swallow Cruise excursion aboard RiverQuest or Onrust for 4 passengers, venturing to a special spot on the Connecticut River where hundreds of thousands of tree swallows gather for their annual migration ritual.

Here the swallows return each night to sleep in the reeds. They gather at sunset and perform aerial ballets, forming an amazing display of art, coordination, and cooperation!

See this incredible natural phenomenon for yourself in late August or early September. Subject to availability and must be redeemed by October 31, 2027.

The winning bidder will receive 2 admission tickets and a $100 gift certificate to Mystic Aquarium -- one of the nation's leading aquariums and one of Shoreline Connecticut's most beloved attractions.

Enjoy a day filled with exciting experiences, interactive galleries, and marine exhibits. Valid through May 31, 2027.

The winning bidder will receive two tickets to Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by renowned playwright August Wilson at the Yale Repertory Theater in New Haven. This brand-new production marks a major homecoming for the legendary work which had its world premiere at the Yale Rep more than 40 years ago.

Valid for any performance October 2 - 24, 2026. All tickets subject to availability and must be reserved in advance.

The winning bidder will receive 4 guest passes for the historic Mystic Seaport Museum -- the nation's largest maritime museum.

Located along the scenic Mystic River in Mystic, CT, this sprawling 19-acre living history museum features a recreated 19th century seafaring village, an active shipyard, contemporary exhibitions and hands-on workshops. Valid through September 30, 2027.

The winning bidder will receive two tickets to the charming musical, Mystic Pizza, at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. Tickets are for Friday, October 2, 2026 only.

Based on the 1988 film, this production tells the story of three-working class girls who navigate the complexities of life, love, and family in a small town pizza joint. With an infectious score featuring mega hits from the '80s and '90s, you will be dancing your way out of the theater.

Registered as a National Historic treasure, the Palace Theater is one of the finest theaters in New England, featuring elegant lobbies, crystal chandeliers, gold detailing, and a Broadway-sized stage. Today, the Palace showcases professional Broadway tours, rock concerts, educational programs, family entertainment, and much more.

Seat location is based upon availability.

Enjoy two tickets to Grammy-winning folk musician Eileen Ivers' performance on October 10, 2026 at The Kate in Old Saybrook.

Ivers continues to push traditional fiddling boundaries from a folk music staple to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intensely driving stage experience. Over her 40+ year career, she has performed with such diverse artists as Sting, Patti Smith, Hall and Oates, and The Chieftains.

Located on Main Street in Old Saybrook, The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center presents a diverse repertoire of cultural and performing arts, provides educational opportunities in the arts, and preserves the lasting legacy of this iconic American actress.

There's not a bad seat in the house! These tickets are for Orchestra Center.

Experience the vibrant music and energy of Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway!

The winner will receive two house seats to the acclaimed production at the Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City. Inspired by the Grammy-winning 1997 album of the same name, the Buena Vista Social Club musical tells a story inspired by the legendary artists who recorded the soul-stirring, foot-tapping music of Cuba's golden age.

To redeem, the winning bidder must contact the designated representative within three days of winning and provide three preferred performance dates. Performance dates and seating are subject to availability. Redemption contact information will be provided to the winning bidder.

Explore your creative side with a $250 gift card toward a class at Lilywork Artisan Tile in Old Lyme.

Create a 12" x 12" mosaic wall tile from start to finish, using a prepared pattern or your own design. Guided by local artisans Paul and Esther Halferty, you'll work with earthenware clay as you design, cut, glaze, reassemble, and grout your mosaic. It's an inviting introduction to working with clay and a chance to learn new techniques while creating something uniquely your own.

Date and time to be mutually agreed upon. Gift card expires September 26, 2027.

Bring nature education to your child's classroom with the Science in Nature program from CT Audubon Society's Roger Tory Peterson (RTP) Estuary Center in Old Lyme.

The winning bidder will receive a certificate good for a one-hour program for one class (PK-3rd Grade), held either at their school or at the RTP Sanctuary.

RTP is committed to conserving and caring for the Connecticut River estuary ecosystem and its watershed. RTP's award-winning Science in Nature program features hands-on, inquiry-based activities that explore earth and life sciences, ecology, conservation, and civic engagement.

Date and time to be mutually agreed upon. Certificate expires September 26, 2027.

Don't miss your chance at this rare, behind-the-scenes tour of the prestigious Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design.

The winning bidder will receive an exclusive curator-led tour for up to six (6) people led by Maureen O'Brien, the Frank Robinson Curator of Painting and Sculpture.

Your group will receive an insider's look at RISD's phenomenal collection of more than 100,000 works dating from ancient times to the present, including fine art, design, decorative arts and objects from all over the world. Located on Providence's historic College Hill, this world-class, must-see museum is a place where art, design, history and contemporary creativity intersect in inspiring ways.

The tour must be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance for a mutually agreed upon time between 10 a.m - 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Winner should reach out to tours@risd.edu and mobrien@risd.edu to make arrangements. Valid through September 27, 2027.

Value: One of a kind!

The winning bidder will receive a private tour for four (4) of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., as well as a $2,000 hotel voucher to Hotels.com for the accommodations of your choice.

President Theodore Roosevelt helped lay the foundation stone in 1907 for this massive gothic cathedral which hosts presidential funerals and other important national services. The Cathedral's Space Window even contains a fragment of moon rock from Apollo 11!

Included in the tour is a fascinating look at the Flower Guild's volunteer ministry, which arranges all flowers for state funerals, national services, weddings, and holidays.

Celebrate America's birthday with this incredible behind-the-scenes experience of this sacred space that has been integral to so many historic moments in our national story.

Value: Priceless!

• A private tour for up to eight (8) of the new Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, led by WMAI Director Catherine Shotick;
• A $1,000 Hotels.com gift card toward accommodations of your choice;
• Four (4) tickets to the United Theater, Westerly's state-of-the-art destination for world-class film, performing arts, and creative arts; and
• A $50 gift certificate to The Cafe for brunch or dinner
• A $25 gift card to The Cooked Goose -- a popular breakfast/lunch spot in Westerly

At the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, explore thoughtfully curated galleries filled with vibrant masterpieces by celebrated artists including Childe Hassam, Lilla Cabot Perry, and John Singer Sargent. Your private tour, led by Director Catherine Shotick, offers a special behind-the-scenes opportunity to experience this remarkable new museum.
Then make a night of it. Enjoy dinner or brunch at The Cafe on Canal Street, and take in a film at the United Theater, located right next door. Your four complimentary tickets are valid for any regularly scheduled film, excluding limited screenings, with no expiration date.

Please note: The museum tour must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance for a mutually agreed-upon time during regular museum hours.

Value: One of a kind!

Image credit: Dancer in White Against the Window, Louis Kronberg (1872-1965) from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism

The winner will enjoy a one (1) night stay for two guests in a deluxe guest room at The Whaler's Inn, which is just steps away from Mystic River Bascule Bridge and and all that downtown Mystic has to offer. National travel publications consistently name The Whalers Inn among the most compelling hotels in New England, citing its historic character, thoughtful renovation, and prime location.

You'll also experience fine fare and hospitality with dinner for four at the historic Captain Daniel Packer Inne. The package includes four complimentary dinner entrees of your choice and a bottle of wine.

Room is subject to availability and must be booked in advance. Valid Sundays-Thursdays (excluding holidays or special events) through December 31, 2027.

Dinner consists of four dinner entrees and a bottle of wine (valued at $80 or less) and must be reserved in advance.

Feel like you're worlds away with this luxurious overnight stay at the waterfront Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, which also includes a delicious breakfast for two at the resort.

Also included is a $100 gift card to SIP Wine Bar in Old Saybrook to experience the Shoreline's premier wine bar. SIP has been voted Best of Connecticut by readers of CT Insider three years in a row.

Advance reservations for a standard room at Saybrook Point are required, based on availability, excluding Saturdays and holidays. Valid through September 26, 2027.

No expiration date for SIP gift card.

Enjoy an overnight stay for two at The University Club of New York, one of the city's most prestigious private social clubs.

The University Club is on the National Historic Register and hosts one of New York's great private art collections, including works by the Lyme Art Colony's own Childe Hassam. The University Club is ideally located for shopping and theater in the city-- and breakfast for two is included!

You'll also enjoy four passes to the Museum of Modern Art, which is right across the street from the University Club.

Please note that all University Club rules must be followed, and advance reservations are required and subject to availability. No weekends or holidays. Valid through September 30, 2027.

MOMA passes must be used by December 31, 2026.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of opera in Wilmington, Delaware, with two tickets to OperaDelaware's season-opening production of Mozart's beloved masterpiece, Don Giovanni, at the historic Grand Opera House.

Choose from either performance:

• Friday, October 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM
• Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM (closing night)

Your experience also includes a $500 hotel voucher toward accommodations of your choice, making this the perfect opportunity for a memorable overnight getaway.

The winning bidder will receive a two (2) night stay with daily breakfast at the historic Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of Salem. This prime location overlooks Salem Common and the Witch Museum and is just steps from the Peabody Essex Museum and the House of Seven Gables. It's the perfect family-friendly spot for exploring Salem and the North Shore!

Complete the Salem experience with a family six-pack of tickets to the can't-miss Salem Witch Museum for some spooky history.

You'll also enjoy four tickets to the extraordinary Peabody Essex Museum, which is Salem's museum of art and culture, with exhibitions that explore everything from witch trials history to nature and science.

Also included: two spooky fall reads to keep you up at night! A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, & Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse by Daniel A. Gagnon and Connecticut Witch Trials: The First Panic in the New World by Cynthia Wolfe Boynton.

For the Hawthorne Hotel, number of guests is based on available room type; four people max. Must make advance reservations, based on availability. Not valid during month of October.

Salem Witch Museum tickets valid for the next seven years, but may not be used in October. Call first to confirm availability.

Peabody Essex tickets are valid through October 31, 2027.

The winning bidder will receive a $350 gift card to enjoy the iconic Spring House Hotel on Block Island.

As the island's oldest and largest hotel, the Spring House has been serving authentic New England charm since 1852. The 10-acre promontory on which the hotel sits creates a beloved feature of the hotel: an unbeatable view of the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island's rolling foothills.

Picture yourself relaxing in the Adirondack chairs lining the lawn, enjoying breathtaking views -- and their signature cocktails!

No expiration or date requirements.

Enjoy a luxury photography session with seasoned photographer Nicole O'Connor to capture special moments in a meaningful setting.

Specializing in maternity, newborn, family, equine, and pet photography, Nicole will offer an initial in-person consultation before your photo shoot to learn more about you and what you hope to capture. She has also included complimentary hair and make-up for the day, as well as a $750 image credit once you review your final images. Images are priced at $250 each.

Expires 3/31/2027, weekdays only.

Did someone say custom luxury tote? This one-of-a-kind, coastal-themed 20" x 13" designer handbag has been hand-painted with some of New England's most delightful indulgences - crab, oysters, and martinis! Crafted by the talented Haily Trevisiol of Trouvaille Supply, makers of distinctive leather accessories, this original piece is truly a showstopper.

Head on over to Main Street in Essex and treat yourself to a shopping spree at The River Lane stores. The winner receives a $300 gift card for the women's store, as well as a $300 gift card to the new men's store just steps down the street. Leave with a wardrobe refresh or a brand new look!

Handmade by Blackkat Leather in Chester, CT, this leather travel briefcase is a beauty that's built to last.

Carefully crafted with the modern workplace in mind, it features plenty of space for your laptop, papers, and supplies. This bag measures 16" wide x 11" tall x 5" deep with a sturdy unlined interior and a detachable leather strap. The leather will only soften with age, creating a gorgeous patina. Don't say we didn't warn you if your office mates are jealous when you walk in with this on your shoulder!

Courtesy of Salon Pure in Old Lyme, enjoy a $200 gift card for an indulgent day of self care! After your visit, enjoy this selection of luxury haircare products by Oribe, including shampoo, conditioner, moisturizing cream, and a dry heat protectant spray. Lauren and her team are sure to take care of you and make this salon experience one to remember.

Tucked on Main Street in Essex is Nora Murphy's The Little Shop -- a wondrous New England gift shop that pairs coastal curiosities with high-end design.

In addition to a $100 gift card to her delightful shop, this package also includes a lovely seashell keepsake box, an assortment of shells and sea stars to add a nautical look to your home, hand salve, and an autographed copy of Nora Murphy's beautiful coffee table book, Country House Living: Celebrating the Beauty of Life at Home.

Delight the children in your life with this adorable collection of games, stickers, puzzles, & books curated from the Griswold Inn Store of Goods & Curiosities in Essex.

Package includes a USA memory match game, fairy garden kit, toy train, ocean creatures sticker book, puzzle-by-number kit, and the picture book, I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman. Also includes a youth-sized Gris t-shirt.

Then shop the incredible selection of toys, clothes and books from The Bowerbird in Old Lyme with a $50 gift card.

Make a little someone happy today!

The winner of this package will be fully equipped for a cozy day at home, snuggled under this super soft hand-loomed cotton throw (valued at $195) and enjoying the scents of lavender and pine from a Farm+Sea reed diffuser -- both from adorable local gift shop, Azalea Home & Gift of Niantic.

We'll even throw in a $25 gift card to local favorite RJ Julia Booksellers, as well as some special books autographed by the authors -- More than Enough by Anna Quindlen and a gorgeous cook book -- Big Bites, Time to Eat! by Kat Ashmore. Carry them in a cute RJ Julia tote!

Head over to Bob's Discount Furniture (any location) with a $250 gift card to find that perfect loveseat, chair, or rug.

And make any job around the house easier with merch from Old Lyme Hardware, including:

• A six-piece screwdriver set & level by SPEC OPS
• 64-oz insulated stainless water bottle by Takeya (keeps your beverage cold for 24 hours - or hot for 12!), and
• A heavy-duty black sweatshirt (size 2XL) from Old Lyme Hardware. Perfect for showing your support for this treasured local business!

Start the day with delicious pastries and a seaside view from Sift Bake Shop -- one of the Shoreline's most beloved bakeries! The winner receives a $25 gift card to Sift, as well as a bag of Sift's house blend coffee and a mug to take home.

Then enjoy a meal and cocktails at one of Niantic's hottest restaurants, 374 on Main Street, with a $200 gift card.

Blending new wave style with old school comforts, 374 is the second restaurant by Cappy Hospitality - a family-owned restaurant group anchored by Paul Formica (of Flanders Fish House fame). It's a local favorite for craft cocktails and locally sourced, artfully prepared plates. Dine out anytime; card has no expiration date.

The Sift gift card is good at any of Sift's locations in Mystic, Niantic, Watch Hill (RI), and Mohegan Sun casino, as well as Mix (Sift's rooftop bar in Mystic) or ATY Bar & Bonbons (Mystic and Mohegan Sun). No expiration date.

From Lyme's very own world-renowned jewelry designer Ann Lightfoot, this gorgeous multi-color stone necklace and earring set is easy to wear and style for any occasion.

With materials sourced from all over the world, each Ann Lightfoot piece is handmade in her Lyme studio. Her jewelry has been exhibited in art galleries and museums and can be found in fine stores from Los Angeles to London.

This necklace measures 15" long with a hook clasp, while the earrings have dangle mounts.

Add a playful pop of color and personality to any space with Peace Love Birdie, a vibrant illuminated LED neon work by New London artist and designer Kat Murphy.

A mixed-media artist with a background in luxury interiors, Murphy brings a sophisticated design sensibility to her colorful, unexpected creations. You can also see her work featured in the Florence Griswold Museum's juried exhibition, Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250, on view now.

Now is the time to buy and plant your fall bulbs. Or maybe you want to find something to bring color to a long New England winter. However you want to spruce up your garden, do it up right with this $200 gift card to White Flower Farm in Litchfield County, CT.

White Flower Farm is a family-owned mail-order nursery located in northwestern CT. Since 1950 they have been providing a wide range of perennials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs, vines, amaryllis, gardening tools & supplies, and gifts for gardeners.

This package includes a facial at Essence Beauty & Wellness; a mani/pedi at Villa Nail Spa; and a $150 gift certificate for a shopping spree at KC's Contemporary Fashion in the Old Saybrook Shopping Center.

A perfect day of shopping and self-care!

Surprise them with a free ear piercing from Water Street Jewelers in Madison, Guilford, or New Haven. Also included is a set of heart-shaped 10mm sterling silver studs and a heavyweight, heart-shaped silver bowl (6" x 6") by Nambe Designs to keep them in.

• a stylish laptop bag, candle, diffuser & lotion from Deux Bisous Maison
• a $100 gift card to J. Horton for something special
• 4 tickets and 2 concession coupons to Madison Cinemas

Honor the time and care you have invested in your home with an original watercolor and ink painting by Sally McBee, a popular Stonington artist and owner of Two Bees Design Studio.

You will receive an original, unframed 15 x 11 or 11 x 15 inch hand-drawn watercolor and ink rendition of your home on fine Arches watercolor paper.

Also included will be twelve 5.25 x 3.75" note cards featuring your house portrait on fine Museo stationary with Crane & Co envelopes.

As she works from life rather than a photograph, the date for her visit to your home is to be mutually agreed upon. Expires September 26, 2027.

This two-hour custom garden design consultation with master gardener Christine Darnell of Christine Darnell Gardens is designed for the do-it-yourself gardener who would like assistance selecting and arranging plants in a naturalistic style.

During the consultation, you will discuss together your site conditions, garden goals, plant preferences, and design ideas to create a resilient, seasonally interesting planting plan.

Christine Darnell Gardens is a landscape and garden design studio located in Lyme, known for creative plant combinations and an artist's eye towards color and texture.

Consultation must take place within a one-hour radius of Old Lyme on a mutually agreed upon date. Valid through September 26, 2027.

Bring the vibrant charm of the South of France to your table with this beautiful Provencal cotton tablecloth and matching napkins. Featuring a classic French print inspired by the traditional motifs of Provence, this colorful set from Centerbrook's Amelie Michele is both elegant and inviting. Fabric from France, sewn in USA. Tablecloth measures 60" x 96" with six matching napkins.

A lovely addition to any dining table!

Plus, enjoy a $150 gift certificate to Eliza B. & Leather Man Ltd., redeemable online or in-store. Shop beautiful, handcrafted goods, including belts, sandals, key fobs, dog collars, and more.

The winning bidder will receive a gift certificate for a facial consultation and Botox treatment for one area at ESANA Plastic Surgery Center & Med Spa.

ESANA offers a full spectrum of cosmetic treatments at two convenient locations in Guilford and New Haven, all designed to enhance and celebrate your natural beauty.