Monthly Activities

Below is a description of some of the monthly events and activities Judy will enjoy in preparation for her voyage to España.  We encourage you to consider joining her or following online in this adventure.  Please refer to the calendar page for specific times and dates, and to RSVP. 

April

Birthday Celebration Dinner: This is the inaugural event of Judy's Gran Celebracion 2012.  Please see our special page "Dinner Party".

May

 

Museum Tour- Metropolitan Museum of Art New York: A special tour of the limited engagement Getrude Stein exhibition, which unites some two hundred works of art to demonstrate the significant impact the Steins' patronage had on the artists of their day, focusing on works by Matisse and Picasso. Following this she will tour the Metropolitan's world-famous collection of Spanish paintings from ca. 1230 to 1900, and the Cloisters museum and gardens, dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe.

June

 

Wines of Galicia Class: Gain in depth knowledge of the gastronomy, terroir, varietals and wine-making styles of Galicia, Spain. Galicia is also known as “Green Spain,” an area much more akin to the terrain and weather of Ireland than what we think of as traditional Spain. With a unique culture and rich history, Galicia is Spain’s leading area for fine white wine production, making some of the most unique white wines of the world, including the famous Albarinos of Rias Baixas. This tasting will focus solely on these white wines and their food pairing abilities.

 

July

Spanish Cooking Class: Known for his often harsh and scathing words, noted food and travel critic chef Anthony Bourdain said of Spain, “it is the best food in the Western world,” which is hard to dispute. The Spanish cuisine is about stellar chefs, amazingly fresh seafood and produce, and quality traditional ingredients. The Romans introduced olives and grapes, leading the Spanish to cook with olive oil as much as their Italian cousins and to produce their own wines. The Moors arrived from North Africa, and in addition to saffron and rice, they brought citrus and the use of sweeter spices, such as cinnamon. Exploration of the New World ultimately led Spain to incorporate foreign ingredients such as peppers, beans, potatoes, and cocoa. This class will introduce you to Spanish cooking to prepare for a gastronomic journey of international cultural influence.

 

August

 Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble Live Performance: Judy will have the opportunity to experience the art of the Flamenco live at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford. The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble will be performing in Noche Flamenca, an evening of traditional and contemporary Flamenco music, song, and dance. The Ensemble is one of the best Flamenco fusion groups in the United States. Hailed as “the best of classical Flamenco brought to modern standards” (Rootsworld.com), “a hidden treasure of the Flamenco world in the Americas…superb musicianship..” (Flamenco Connection), and “simply brilliant” (Flamenco Buzz.com) this outstanding musical group represents the best of contemporary Flamenco music, song, and dance.

September

“Survival Spanish” Class: This is a fun and relaxed series of simple courses designed to introduce a quick method of learning the least Spanish needed to get by when traveling.  The class targets only the minimum basic phrases needed, providing tips to lessen problems by emphasizing how to politely limit the other persons responses to yes or no etc.  It focuses on select key words and phrases for situations involving greetings, emergencies, basic counting, menus, changing money and paying bills.

 

October

Travel to Spain. See our page "Voyage to Spain".