Early September 2015 eNews

Mark Twain "following the equator"

FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

"I have found out there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
 
- Huckleberry Finn in
Tom Sawyer Abroad by Mark Twain
 
Hello, friends!

We hope you got to do some traveling with people you love this summer and are happy to report that thousands of people traveled to visit the Mark Twain House this summer. Now we're preparing for an even busier fall season.

We invite you to keep an eye on some exciting new changes that are in the works thanks to a generous grant from the Connecticut Bond Commission. You will soon be noticing improvements to our site including stairs, patio, and the opening of some new spaces in the carriage house and the main house. These improvements will enhance the tour experience for visitors and allow us to share even more of Mark Twain's story.

In addition to these physical improvements, we're also relying on technology more. For instance, our Virtual Tours offer 360-degree views of 18 rooms and spaces of the Mark Twain House. Click on the link to stroll - "virtually" - through the rooms of the Mark Twain House where you can pause to zoom in on the beautiful details throughout. It's the next best thing to being here!

We offer regular house tours, ghost tours, and Clue tours, and soon we plan to introduce new character tours. Sam Clemens was not one to sit still, and neither are we. Come visit, and join in the fun!

With gratitude, 
 
Cindy Lovell, Executive Director

EARLY SEPTEMBER EVENTS 

For more details on all our events, please visit our website. 

A Conversation with Author R.A. Salvatore
Wednesday, September 9, 7:30 p.m.

As one of the fantasy genre's most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Hungarian, and many more. He is the author of more than forty novels and more than a dozen New York Times best sellers, including The Two Swords. Salvatore's first published novel, The Crystal Shard in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Iceland Dale Trilogy and introduced and enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter's Blades Trilogy and The Cleric Quintet. 

This event is generously supported by The Hartford.

Tickets are $25, and $20 for the members of The Mark Twain House & Museum. There will be a VIP reception with the author at 6:00 p.m. for $65. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.


THE TROUBLE BEGINS AT 5:30 -- "Welcome to the Jungle: Horticulture and Hi-jinks in the Clemens Conservatory" with former Mark Twain House curator Patricia Philippon
Wednesday, September 9, 5:00 p.m. reception, 5:30 p.m. talk

"Welcome to the Jungle: Horticulture and Hi-jinks in the Clemens Conservatory" is a feast of ficus and cereus with rising local museum talent Patti Philippon. Patti will be telling some stories we know and many we don't about this important place, about Clemens's interest and role there, and about the grounds, greenhouse and plantings. One or more of the valiant Master Gardeners who have been carefully restoring and maintaining the Conservatory over the years may be in attendance to expand on the recent doings there. Philippon is the Executive Director of the American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut and was the chief curator of The Mark Twain House & Museum from 2007 to 2014.

The Trouble Begins at 5:30 is supported by a generous grant from the George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation, Bank of America, N.A. and Alan S. Parker, Trustees.

This is a free event but reservations are recommended. Please call (860)280- 3130 or click here.




The MOuTH with Chion Wolf: "Caught in the Act -- Stories About Not Getting Away With It"
Friday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.

The Mark Twain House & Museum continues "The MOuTH," a storytelling series with WNPR personality Chion Wolf. Come hear & tell stories on the theme "Caught in the Act -- Stories About Not Getting Away With It." The event is in no way a competition, just storytelling in front of friends in a museum dedicated to Mark Twain, one of our country's best storytellers. There will be a special guest -- John Farrell (a.k.a. Fast Jack).  He's the author of Fast Jack: The Last Hustler, and a resident of Manchester, CT. The last of the old-time dice and card "mechanics" recounts his colorful adventures in and outside the mob running crooked dice and card games all over the country and world. He'll be selling and signing books at the program. 

Chion Wolf, a noted photographer and voice performer, is part of The Colin McEnroe Show on WNPR as the show's announcer and sometimes-sidekick. She can be heard during station breaks many days of the week.
his is the definitive story of the greatest art theft in history.

$5.00 (Storytellers chosen for the lineup get in free.) Call (860) 280-3130 or click here.


The Mark Twain House & Museum presents TAPPING INTO TWAIN Oktoberfest!
Friday, September 25, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

The party of the year featuring over twenty regional breweries, micro-breweries and home brewers plus over a dozen local restaurants. 
Guests will enjoy all of this to the live sounds of The Rude Mechanicals and The Alternates Duo, with sets by DJ Whitney Bobby.
 
Prices include all food, beverage and a collectible pint glass!
  
Advance Price (prior to 12:30pm on Friday the 25th): $45; Door Price: $50; MTH&M Member Price: $40; Designated Driver: $20. Tickets: call (860) 280-3130 or click here.


PLUS, PLAN YOUR SPOOKY OCTOBER AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE:

Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours
October 
2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29 and 30; tours step off at 
6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.

We reprise our popular Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours for spooky Halloween month chills. The Mark Twain House has been featured on Syfy Channel's Ghost Hunters and the Biography Channel's My Ghost Story. On these tours, participants will hear about these investigations -- and learn about Mark Twain's own interest in the supernatural. Filled with haunted history, dark tales and Victorian traditions surrounding seances and spiritualism, these nighttime tours are as educational as they are goosebump-inducing. October Ghost tours sell out, so be sure to call soon to make your reservations!

The tours are tsponsored by Tsunami Tsolutions.

$22 with discounts available for members and children. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.


PLUS: there are many more events coming up this fall. Check our website for details! 
  
 
The Mark Twain House & Museum's Writing Classes and Workshops 

Be the writer you've always wanted to be by studying at the home of America's greatest writer!

Writing Workshops
(One-Day Workshops) $40
-- Nature Writing (on September 12)
-- A View Askew: Point of View in Young Adult Writing (on September 26)
 
Writing Classes
(Six-Week Classes) $265
These Classes start on September 2
-- Writing the Land
-- Fiction
-- Nonfiction
-- Storytelling
This Class starts on October 12
-- Writing Children's Books
These Classes start on October 14
-- Writing Your Family History
-- Fiction
-- Guided Autobiography

Don't miss out -- for the complete schedule of ALL classes and workshops, or to register, please visit www.marktwainhouse.org or call (860) 280-3130.

Questions? Email [email protected] 

 

 

CAPITAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE HYBRID LITERATURE COURSE AT THE MARK TWAIN HOUSE AND HARRIET BEECHER STOWE CENTER

Wednesday, September 2, is the starting date; at 2:00 p.m.

 

Capital Community College (CCC) is partnering with The Mark Twain House & Museum and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center this fall to offer English 220 Studies in American Literature: Twain and Stowe. The three-credit hybrid course, a combination of in-person and online classes, will meet every other Wednesday from 2:00-4:42 p.m., alternating weekly between classrooms at the Stowe and Twain houses, and online.

 

The first class will be held on September 2 at the Stowe Center.

 

Students will read and discuss works by two of American literature's most influential authors, and will have access to materials unique to these neighboring National Historic Landmarks. Capital's Humanities Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Partridge, will teach the class, and students will also learn from staff experts at the Stowe and Twain museums, who will provide them with a behind-the-scenes look at the houses, archives and exhibits. Students will get a walking tour of Nook Farm, specialized lecture-tours of the houses, interactive discussions on exhibits and archive material, and the opportunity to explore the collections for research projects.

 

This is the first time either of the institutions have held a course with an area college.

 

To register, or to get more information, please visit

 

 

 

 
 
MARK MY WORDS: IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY!
Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.
 


The Mark Twain House & Museum goes into hyper drive with MARK MY WORDS V...IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY!  In anticipation of the release of STAR WARS VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS, we have assembled a lineup of authors that write in the Star Wars Expanded Universe: novels, comics, reference books, children's books, and graphic novels. 
 
With over 100 Star Wars titles between them, JASON FRY, JOHN OSTRANDER, MARK STACKPOLE, RYDER WINDHAM and TIMOTHY ZAHN have staked out the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim with adventures and characters from the films and of their own.  

Join us for the MARK MY WORDS author panel and "Jabba-size" your experience with our VIP DEATH STAR DISCO & DESSERTS AFTER-PARTY at The Mark Twain House's Webster Museum Center.  It's going to be more fun than an Ewok celebration!
 
With the Immanuel Congregational Church's beautiful Naboo-like architecture serving as the backdrop for this unforgettable night, audiences will laugh, learn, and be inspired by these five men that have helped shape the face one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time.

For all the details on this exciting event, please visit our dedicated website TwainInSpace.com!

Generously sponsored by The Hartford, Hoffman Auto Group, The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company, and Reid & Riege, P.C.
 
Advance tickets are $35 through November 1st. On November 2nd and later, tickets will be $45. There will be a VIP ticket available for $85 that includes premium seating at the event, a poster signed by authors, and the DEATH STAR DISCO & DESSERTS after-party in the Webster Bank Museum Center at The Mark Twain House & Museum. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.

 
THANK YOU TO OUR NEW & RENEWING    (July 23 through August 19)
 

Mr. & Mrs. Philip K. Allen, Jr.
Sam Applefield
Sharen Beloin
Gabriel Belosevic
Eleanor Blake
Annie Buck
Carl Casinghino
Lucy M. Clark
Paul Gilman
Alesia Goginsky
Daniel Haim & James Palmieri
Jan Harrington
John Hartquist
Christine Hurley
George & Christine Keenan
Scott & Mary Key
Paul Kiernan
Daniel R. Kingman
Stanley L. Korwin
Prof. Emerita Sarah B. Landau

 

Marcia A. Lattimore
Lee R. & Marlene Melcher
Rebecca Mintz
Bruce Mitchell
Drs. Robert K. & Caryn McTishe Musil
Jacob L. & Elaine M. Newman
Barbara R. Nye
Nancy J. Parker
Edward Paulsen & Patricia Wilson
Jack & Karen Petersen
Jonathan Prachthauser
Michelle Rhizor
David Saltzman
Edward Savage
Dr. Marilyn Schaffer
Mary Coxe Schlosser
Rod & Elena Steier
Charles A. Surko
Lucy Shea Sweeney
Nicholas Woolley


 
  
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS (July 23 through August 19)
 
INDIVIDUAL 

Timothy & Jennifer Anderson
Ali Antar
Kevin Barnard
Bethany Berger
Linda Biancalani
Jim Brennan
Parvez Bukhari
John Buscher
Nicole Bushey
Russell & Jacquelyn Calamari
Shelly Campbell
Thomas Choma
Lane Coonrod
Karen Cox
Jacquie Dobreski
Leslie Dzike
Kimberley Fais
Alesia Goginsky
Jimmy Gonzalez
Frank Greaney
Donald Grove
Morgan Gruss
Sheri Hoard
Richard Hume
Prof. Emerita Sarah B. Landau
Martin Levitz
Dr. Cindy Lovell
Laurie Meotti
Gerald Mertens
Lodovico Minnocci
John & Ellen Moran
Kayla Mosher
Mary Mumper
Howard Nuehlen
Arthur A. Palmunen
Bonnie Pinkerton
Kathleen Polhemus
Sal Presutti
Glen Rapoport
Susan Reiter
Kevin Schultz
David Sherman & Diana Creamer
Russell Sills
Michael Smola
Lauren Taylor
Maximilian Toth
Alexander Vancil
Michael S. Wilder
Michael Winterfield
INSTITUTIONAL 
 
Carvel Ice Cream (Avon, CT)

 

IN MEMORY OF JORDI GOMES-FERRES

Abigail Hastillo
Patricia Parlette

 
 

 
Make the most of your donation - be sure to ask your employer about matching gifts.
 
MARK TWAIN STORE 
FEATURED ITEM OF THE MONTH:

Huckleberry Finn Journal
 
As you settle in to write in this journal you may find yourself swept away by the classic work, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The lines of each page are actually the entire text of Mark Twain's beloved tale. Enjoy writing your own classic as you read another! Heat burnished cover with elastic closure.

$16.95. Visit our store or buy it online here.


JOIN The Mark Twain House & Museum!

 

Enjoy the special insider benefits of membership in The Mark Twain House & Museum. And there's the sheer joy of being part of the legacy of Mark Twain, whose wit and insight remain alive today in 2014 -- over 150 years after Sam Clemens took on his famous pen name and entered history.

 

Submit our easy-to-use, secure online membership form or simply call 860-280-3112.

 

Make a DONATION Today!

 

Your donation to The Mark Twain House & Museum has a major impact on our ability to preserve this beautiful home, provide crucial educational programs for thousands of schoolchildren, offer mind-stimulating and spine-tingling events for adults, and welcome thousands of visitors each year. 

 

 ...and make your donation count double: Find out if your employer has a Matching Gift program.

 

Donate online, call 860-280-3112, or send your donation to: The Mark Twain House & Museum, Development Department, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06105.

 

Join the FRIENDS!

 

The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum offer wonderful speaking events, social gatherings, and fun volunteer opportunities. Pony up $30 and you'll get it all, too!

 

It's the volunteer organization that has supported the museum for more than 50 years. To join, call Membership Co-Chairs Chuck Paydos, 860-242-4825, or Dee Peters, 860-233-4066.

 

 

The Mark Twain House & Museum has restored the author's Hartford, Connecticut, home, where the author and his family lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote his most important works there, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In addition to providing tours of Twain's restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain's literary legacy and provide information about his life and times. The house and museum at 351 Farmington Ave. are open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-247-0998 or visit us online. Programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are supported by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaign.

 

David Cash, Publicist and Publications Editor

The Mark Twain House & Museum