Hill-Stead Museum's May Market 'Really On The Map'

Hill-Stead Museum’s 25^th May Market promises to be the biggest and best yet. On the museum grounds May 6 and May 7, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the fundraising event offers something for everyone – from plant sales to author talks to music and dancing.

Making their debut this year are Hill-Stead’s own line of products, including jams made from local fruit; Hill-Stead honey produced by Jones Apiaries; private-label Hill-Stead wines, produced by Jonathan Edward Winery of North Stonington, CT; dresses and shirts printed with reproductions of art in the museum collection and scarves and ties inspired by wallpaper and fabrics in the house.

Mem Legros, Hill-Stead’s Director of Brand Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurial Initiatives conceived of the idea for the branded products.

“It’s been great to design museum inspired products that bring our collection to life. My idea was to let the world see our beautiful collection” she explained. “These products also let people see parts of the collection that are not as well known, such as the Japanese prints.”

“It makes the Hill-Stead collections more accessible to the public,” added Director of Communications Cynthia Cagenello, “and they are beautiful.”

In addition to this year’s featured speakers – L.A. celebrity caterer Lulu Powers on Friday, May 6 at 11 am, and New York Times contributor and author Jane Garmey on Saturday, May 7 at 11 am, May Market features 60 exhibitors of plants, antiques, jewelry, art and crafts.

Jan Wright, exhibitor chairman for the past seven years, said “this year the market is really on the map. I got calls requesting exhibit space right up until last night. This year we are also using the Makeshift Theatre for the first time and we’re full.”

Lulu Powers, a Connecticut native, now one of Los Angeles' premier caterers and event planners, will discuss stress-free entertaining as presented in her book, Lulu Powers: Food to Flowers.

“You don’t need to cook to entertain,” she offers. “Recycle, Reuse, Reinvent. Take stuff from your house. Go outside of your box and be creative. Put burlap and a scarf on the table. Write 'Welcome' on glasses with a Sharpie.”

Powers will demonstrate decorating with what’s at hand by selecting items from Theodate’s Attic, pre-loved collectibles, and from the Hill-Stead gift shop. Her talk will include refreshments – a specialty appetizer from her book – and a post-lecture book signing. Admission to this event is $30.

Farmington resident Steve Silk, award-winning garden writer, photographer and designer and former Managing Editor for Fine Gardening Magazine, will present a tour of the Sunken Garden on Friday at 1 p.m. Silk, president of the Connecticut Horticultural Society, collaborated with Sydney Eddison on Gardens to Go: Creating and Designing a Container Garden. Free with May Market admission.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. Jane Garmey will discuss her book Private Gardens of Connecticut. Garmey is a noted garden writer and contributor to The New York Times, as well as the author of The Writer in the Garden, Great British Cooking: A Well-Kept Secret, and Great New British Cooking. Admission is $30.

May Market, one of Hill-Stead’s major fundraising events, is organized and presented by the museum’s core volunteer group, the Hill-Steaders. This year’s event co-chairmen are Martha Fanelli and Ruth Rabinowitz.

Admission is $8 for members; $12 for non-members, children under 12 free.

General admission includes Friday's talk by Steve Silk; daily talks and demonstrations by Master Gardeners; Saturday's visit with Hill-Stead's flock of sheep; live a capella music by Sweet Adelines; live performance by the Morris Dancers; children's craft activities, and a tour of the 1901 Pope Riddle house boasting Impressionist masterpieces. 

Hill-Stead Museum is located at 35 Mountain Rd., 860.677.4787.