ESSEX, CT — The lower Connecticut River Valley has a full calendar before the foliage crowds arrive. The Essex Art Association's 80th anniversary show has its last weekend, a museum exhibit sets the river itself to music, and a vintage train serves a four-course dinner on the rails. The tap room at the country's oldest continuously operated inn books a band every night. Here's what's happening in Chester, Essex and Deep River from Thursday through Sunday.
This Weekend's Arts & Entertainment
- "Celebrating Our 80th Year" — Final Weekend — Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; closes Sunday, Sept. 27. The nonprofit gallery marks eight decades with an anniversary exhibition of members' work. This is also the last weekend of the gallery's April-through-September season. Essex Art Association, 10 N. Main St., Essex.
- "Rhythm of the River: Music and Memory Along the Connecticut" — On view through Oct. 11. The museum's special exhibit treats the river valley as a place of sound, through original art, photographs, sheet music and recordings. Real steamboat whistles and dinner chimes from the passenger boats that once worked the river are part of the show. Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex.
- Pick Your Project Glass Class — Thursday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m. Beginners learn the basics of cutting and shaping glass, then choose their own project. Up to 16 square inches of glass is included. The studio is in the black SoMA building; the studio suggests entering 457 Main St. in a GPS. RiverFire Glass, 500 Main St., Deep River.
- Steam Train & Riverboat Excursions — Thursday through Sunday, departures at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The 2 1/2-hour trip leaves the 1892 Essex Station for a narrated 12-mile round trip by train, then continues by riverboat with views of Gillette Castle. Coach is $49 and first class is $65. A one-hour train-only ride is $29, and anyone 2 or older needs a ticket. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, 1 Railroad Ave., Essex.
This Weekend's Restaurants & Bars
- Live Music in the Tap Room — Thursday, Sept. 24, 8 to 11 p.m. (The Cherry Pie Band); Friday, Sept. 25, 8 to 11 p.m. (Psychedelic '60's); Saturday, Sept. 26, 4 to 7 p.m. ("Cocktail Piano" with Francine) and 8 to 11 p.m. (Local Honey Acoustic); Sunday, Sept. 27, 7:30 to 10 p.m. (Martin Kelly Acoustic Trio). The inn, open since 1776, books a different act each night. Jillian Grey fronts Cherry Pie's swing, rockabilly and Latin-style set. Psychedelic '60's is a power trio covering the Kinks, the Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Singer-songwriter Erin Smith leads Local Honey Acoustic, and the Martin Kelly trio plays "unplugged" Clapton, Van Morrison and Cat Stevens. The Tap Room menu covers burgers, chowders and fish 'n chips. The Griswold Inn, 36 Main St., Essex.
- Essex Clipper Dinner Train — Saturday, Sept. 26, 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 27, 4 to 6:30 p.m. A four-course meal is served aboard restored 1920s Pullman dining cars pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive on a 2 1/2-hour ride through the river valley. Tickets are $129.99. Essex Clipper Dinner Train, 1 Railroad Ave., Essex.
- Chester Sunday Market With the Dogbite Band — Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Main Street fills with Connecticut-grown produce, meats, fish, cheeses and breads at the weekly farmers market, which runs through Oct. 11. The Dogbite Band plays this week. There's no on-street parking downtown during the market; the organizers list lots including North Quarter Park, Maple Street, Water Street and the Chester Library. Chester Sunday Market, Main Street, Chester.
It's an easy weekend to string together along Route 154. Try a glass class in Deep River on Thursday afternoon and a swing set in the Griswold Inn's Tap Room that night. Spend Saturday riding the steam train and riverboat before settling in for dinner on the Essex Clipper. On Sunday, take in the market music on Chester's Main Street, then catch the Essex Art Association's anniversary show before it closes at 5 p.m.
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