Officially the Constitution State, Connecticut has gone by a number of nicknames throughout its illustrious history as one of the first 13 colonies, including the Brownstone State, the Blue Law State, the Provisions State and “in allusion to the strict morals of its inhabitants,” the rather amusing Land of Steady Habits.
Popular to this day is its Nutmeg State moniker. While ostensibly referring to the aromatic spice ground from the seed of Myristica fragrans, or the nutmeg tree, the origin of this appealing nickname is not entirely clear. One tale holds that it derives from the ingenuity of early Connecticut Yankees, possibly sailors or spice traders, who whittled wooden “nutmegs” and sold them as souvenirs—or as worthless items to unsuspecting buyers.
Beyond question, however, is Connecticut’s entrepreneurial spirit, with signature contributions including America’s first plow, factory-made hats, friction matches and commercial telephone exchange. Also a pioneering center in the manufacture of helicopters, jet engines, submarines and firearms, small but resourceful Connecticut has been a forge of creativity since its chartering in 1662.
For productive meetings with “spice,” here are eight inventive venues from around the state.
WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM OF ART, HARTFORD
Descended from Connecticut’s earliest colonizers, Hartford-born Daniel Wadsworth, himself an artist and architect, was one of America’s first significant patrons of the arts. Originally wishing to establish “a gallery of fine arts,” he was persuaded instead to found an “atheneum,” a popular term of the time describing a cultural institution devoted to history, literature, art and science. Opened in 1842, his namesake creation is not only America’s oldest public art museum, but internationally renowned as one of its finest.
Comprising five connected buildings, the Wadsworth, home to nearly 50,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years, offers several regal spaces for private group functions.
“The Wadsworth Atheneum is a thriving civic destination with a storied past,” says the museum’s director and CEO, Susan Talbott, who was previously director of Smithsonian Arts at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. “From the soaring beaux-arts vaulted ceilings in Morgan Great Hall to the sky-lit Avery Court, our stunning galleries meld the old with the new and showcase our masterpieces at every turn. We welcome our community to share in the rich cultural heritage we have been so fortunate to experience every day.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS, NEW HAVEN
Founded in 1996 upon the idea that “a festival combining the best of the arts with serious ideas could produce a vibrant community,” this exuberant celebration of performing arts, lectures and conversations has evolved into one of the most well-regarded arts festivals of its kind in the country.
Described by the New York Times as “a happening hard to top for sheer scale and variety,” the 15-day event, taking place this year from June 14 to 28, uses New Haven’s theaters and open spaces, such as the historic town Green, as stages for a diversity of exciting and engaging events.PageBreak
“With high quality artists visiting from around the world and the stimulation of far-ranging ideas and conversations on topics from innovation to culture and politics, there is something at the festival for everyone,” says Art Priromprintr, director of marketing and communications for the event.
Planners can craft custom group schedules from the festival’s many offerings (more than 80 percent are free), such as pre-arranged day packages that include talks, theatrical performances and outdoor headline concerts.
“As part of the festival, we also offer unique walking tours of New Haven’s many charming sites, galleries, museums, shops, restaurants and more,” Priromprintr says.
BRUCE MUSEUM, GREENWICH
Originally built as a private home in 1853, this cultural treasure was deeded to the town of Greenwich by namesake owner Robert Moffat Bruce in 1908 for his stipulated use as “a natural history, historical and art museum for the use and benefit of the public.”
Since featuring its first art exhibition in 1912, the Bruce, with prestigious accreditation from the American Association of Museums, has stayed true to that purpose, as Peter Sutton, the museum’s executive director, explains.
“For more than a century, the Bruce Museum has been a vibrant regional institution that has grown in critical acclaim,” Sutton says. “The success of the museum lies in our commitment to our core mission, the engagement of our supporters, and our goal to excel at serving the broad interests of our constituents.”
Boasting a collection of nearly 15,000 objects from the arts and sciences, the hill-perched museum, scenically overlooking Greenwich Harbor, is a splendid choice for tours and gatherings.
Welcoming schools and other groups to public programs including gallery talks with trained docents, art and science lectures, films and more, the Bruce hosts private functions for up to 250 in its elegant art and science galleries.PageBreak
THE SILO AT HUNT HILL FARM, NEW MILFORD
In active use for almost 300 years, Hunt Hill Farm, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an idyllic retreat in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut.
Home and museum of the late Lyle “Skitch” Henderson, founder and conductor of the New York Pops orchestra, and his wife Ruth, this local treasure, set on hundreds of acres of open space, entices groups with its renowned culinary program at the silo, a converted hay barn from around 1800.
Distinctively historic, the Silo at Hunt Hill Farm is the first recreational cooking school in Connecticut. With past instructors including Martha Stewart and celebrity chef Jacques Pepin, groups can arrange for private cooking classes and culinary team-builders.
Charming space for cocktail parties, dinners and catered events is also available. The cozy Museum Studio, with adjoining deck overlooking Museum Field, is used for tented affairs.
“The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm provides a peaceful and rustic setting that is ideal for meetings and retreats, corporate team building, weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners, holiday and office parties, and any other celebratory occasion,” says Liba Furman, executive director of the venue.
KEELER TAVERN MUSEUM HOUSE AND GARDEN, RIDGEFIELD
Also reaching back three centuries is this Fairfield County classic from 1713, billed locally as “Ridgefield’s Gathering Place.” Celebrating its 300th anniversary last year, the property’s incarnations have included farmhouse, tavern, stagecoach stop, post office and inn. During Revolutionary War action in 1777, a British cannonball struck the then tavern’s corner post, where it remains today.
In 1907, Cass Gilbert, famed American architect of structures including the Woolworth Building in New York City and the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., purchased the property as a summer residence. In addition to extensively upgrading the tavern building, Gilbert added the Garden House and Barn.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site remains a signature gathering place for the area. Along with guided tours of the historic house, groups of up to 90 can rent the white clapboard Garden House and its patio for meetings, luncheons and other events.
Also designed by Gilbert, the private gardens feature award-winning flowerbeds and culinary, medicinal and household herbs known to have been used in Connecticut during the 18th century.PageBreak
FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM, OLD LYME
Located on the banks of the Lieutenant River in coastal Mystic Country, this appealing venue is billed as “the ultimate art, nature and history lover’s destination.”
“Miss Florence” Griswold, born in 1850, played a pivotal role in cultivating the renowned Lyme Art Colony, America’s center of Impressionism for over a century. After a reversal of their fortune, Griswold and her family transformed their homestead, a Late Georgian-style mansion built in 1817 on a 12-acre estate, into the center of the Impressionist art colony.
As the New York Times once wrote, “In her delicate and high-bred way, Miss Florence had her part in fostering an authentic American art.” Now a museum, her National Historic Landmark home is the centerpiece of a charming complex that includes gallery and studio space, a historic barn, and beautiful gardens and grounds.PageBreak
With indoor and outdoor space available for meetings, corporate retreats, receptions and parties for up to 150 people, groups can experience the captivating setting that once drew American Impressionist artists to paint “en plein air” along the river and in the gardens.
FOXWOODS CASINO RESORT, MASHANTUCKET
Foxwoods, the largest resort casino in North America, continues to solidify its position as one of the premier hotel, gaming, shopping and entertainment destinations in the Northeast.
Offering 150,000 square feet of conference space, four AAA Four Diamond hotels with 2,200 rooms, including the Grand Pequot and MGM Grand, and numerous world-class amenities, Foxwoods is also one of the wider region’s leading choices for groups.
Additionally, Foxwoods is well established on the cultural and entertainment fronts, with diverse venues ranging from the MGM Grand Theatre for headline events to the Comix Comedy Club. With exhibits covering 20,000 years of Native American and natural history, the event-capable Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center is the world’s largest Native American museum. Nightlife options, meanwhile, include Scorpion Bar; the 21,000-square-foot Shrine nightclub and lounge; and High Rollers, which includes 20 bowling lanes and versatile private space for up to 800 guests.
MOHEGAN SUN, UNCASVILLE
With over 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 38,000-square-foot, pillar-free Uncas Ballroom and 30 meeting rooms, Mohegan Sun is another group favorite. Offering 1,200 luxury guest rooms and suites, the resort also shines as a leading entertainment destination.
When not enjoying treatments at the luxurious Elemis Spa, golfing at the Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug or gaming at Mohegan’s 180,000-square-foot Casino of the Earth, delegates can catch a show at the resort’s three performance halls.
Routinely voted one of the world’s top entertainment venues, the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena is the stage for superstar events ranging from concerts by Fleetwood Mac and Bon Jovi to collegiate and professional sporting championships.
Groups can also experience headline singers, comedians and other entertainers in the intimate atmosphere of the plush 350-seat Cabaret Theatre. Rocking out this power trio is the Wolf Den, where seven nights a week, guests enjoy free performances from high-profile acts such as Blue Oyster Cult and Heart. Located in the heart of the casino, the venue offers intimate seating, full beverage service and a state-of-the-art sound system.
