What Interests You? DCA Open House, Sept 13th

What are You interested in?

Members and the public will be sure to find something of interest at the DCA Open House on Thursday, September 13th. Starting at 9am, all are welcome to explore the large variety of classes, workshops and cultural lectures, gather flyers and speak directly to instructors and organizers; tour ‘Meadowlands’, the historic home and gardens of the DCA; speak to Marcia Selden Catering professionals about functions from cocktails to weddings; see first hand the fun of volunteering at the DCA Thrift Shop; and understand how dollars spent in DCA activities help fund Scholarships for high school and college students from Darien, a key part of the DCA’s philanthropic mission.

All lectures, activities and classes available from the fall will be showcased.  Our highly anticipated Art Lecture Series will be led by three distinguished curators of the Frick Collection, details of which will be graciously explained; Gardening enthusiasts will hear of upcoming lectures and activities, as well as the Greenhouse program; Writer’s Workshops, Pageturners book group, and Meet The Author series programs will be explained to avid writers and readers. Presenting authors range from RoseMarie Terenzio, with her inside perspective on John & Carolyn Kennedy in ‘Fairy Tale Interrupted’, and Lee Woodruff’s launch of her newest novel ‘Those We Love Most’, to the fun of ‘Cupcakes, Cookies, & Pie, Oh My!’ by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson. 

Classes this year include Beginning Bridge, Advanced Beginning Bridge, Supervised Bridge Play and Duplicate Bridge; Beginning Mah Jongg and Beginning Canasta, a team-based form of rummy, are offered.  Beginning and Intermediate French language courses, and our engaging French Literature workshops will also continue. Body Tune-Up exercise classes will comingle with a focus on the creative side: Painting classes for beginner to advanced, Cooking classes led by various professional chefs, Arts & Crafts to include Scrapbooking and Card Making.  Details of the popular ‘Taking Control: Financial Workshop for Women’ will also be available.

For the younger set there is the Mom’s Morning In program for tots and their parents or caregivers. Those with musical talents can look into joining the Blue Notes singing group; pianists may wish to explore the Duo Piano group. The Senior Men’s Association always has a full schedule of speakers, outings and community service projects, and the Women’s Group has a variety of social activities and speakers lined up, including a luncheon featuring the ‘Entertaining Addict’ Sheila McCaffery, and a bus trip to the New York Botanical Gardens. Keen Theatergoers can also gain first hand details of any upcoming Theater Bus and Encore trips to Broadway. 

Highlighting opportunities to volunteer, staff from the DCA’s Thrift Shop will be on hand to discuss the practical and social side of volunteering at the shop; they’ll also offer some unique items for sale.  Other DCA groups will offer volunteering opportunities as well.

Tours of the recently renovated interiors of Meadowlands – listed in the National Register of Historic Places – will be offered, to include the prestigious Ellen Biddle Shipman formal garden and Greenhouse.  Representatives of Marcia Selden Catering, the exclusive caterer for the DCA, will be available to discuss their full range of catering and rental capabilities, for those exploring upcoming wedding or event venues.

Since DCA dollars – donations, membership dues, event and activity fees, DCA Thrift Shop revenue – fund scholarships for Darien High School graduates and collegiates, members of the DCA Scholarship Committee will also be on hand to explain how the program works, and the application process for Darien youth.

All are welcome!  No charge to attend.  The Open House runs from 9-10:30am on Thursday, September 13th, at 274 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT.  Call (203) 655-9050 for more information.

Dedicated to the Darien community since 1923, the Darien Community Association provides a broad array of educational, cultural, and social programs in an historic setting and enriches the community through philanthropy and outreach.