Boating and BBQ to Sheffield Island June 30

BBQ is trending in pop culture - on TV shows, at festivals and fairs and even on road trip itineraries. BBQ has become a quintessential American treat, especially around the 4th of July. Some dare to say that BBQ almost rivals apple pie in popularity! With this thought in mind, the Seaport Association in Norwalk has cooked up a special BBQ Cruise on June 30. The boat departs the dock at 5 p.m. and returns at 9 p.m. The capacity is limited to 49 lucky people (the Coast Guard sets the limit). This event does require advance reservations so get your tickets early!

The Lighthouse on Sheffield Island has a long history and is celebrating 150 years making this BBQ Cruise, the only one of the season, very special. Like the Lighthouse, BBQ has a long history whose roots go back to Caribbean cooking. In the U.S. there are four distinct styles of BBQ including Carolina, Texas, Memphis and Kansas City. These four styles were brought north from the Caribean by Spanish conquistadors and then moved westward and beyond by settlers. Along the way, a few European spices were mixed in, and the techniques modified here and there resulting in the four basic types of BBQ found here today.

This BBQ Cruise is the perfect way to get inspired for your July 4th BBQ! The menu for the Sheffield Island BBQ includes all the classics - pulled pork, BBQ steak, BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, tomato salad, orzo salad, three bean salad, watermelon and soft drinks. Feel free to BYOB and don't forget your plastic cups! An added bonus of the Sheffield Island BBQ is that guests dine as the sun sets over Long Island Sound making for memorable photo opportunities.

It is undeniable that there is a certain pleasure when the slow-cooked flavors of meat hit the smoke and the BBQ sauce or rubs - combine that with our BBQ Cruise to Sheffield Island on June 30 and you are in for a perfect night. For tickets and additional information click here.

The Seaport Association dock is located on 4 North Water Street adjacent to the Maritime Aquarium Imax Parking Lot. Parking is available at the adjacent Maritime Garage

Get Over Hump Day with the Seaport Association

Having made it through Monday and Tuesday, come Wednesday some folks need a little extra motivation to get to the weekend!   The Seaport Association in Norwalk is offering a series of adult only acoustic cruises through Norwalk Harbor and Islands every Wednesday in June, July, August, and September to get you over the hump!

This two-hour cruise departing at 6:30 p.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m. has the added attraction of a beautiful sunset on the water.  Imagine listing to the serene sounds of music while watching the sky fade into dusk amid the glimmer of city lights.  The views are fantastic and so is the music…it is like attending your very own private concert on the water with 48 other friends!

On June 20, join the New Orleans Beatniks on an evening cruise and relax to the music of New Orleans with a little bit of funk and a lot of soul!  Their unique musical style and the way they interact with their audience will make this cruise unforgettable.

On June 27, Pierce Campbell will perform. Campbell was appointed as the Connecticut State Troubadour for 2007-2008, and is well known as a storyteller and a fabulously talented guitar, piano and acoustic base player.  Passengers will unwind to his well-crafted songs, his rich and powerful voice and dazzling guitar work, with a story or two thrown in to round out an excellent night of entertainment.

To add to the ambiance, don’t forget to pack a picnic snack and your favorite bottle of wine or beer.

How to Book the Cruise

The Seaport Wednesday Acoustic Cruise is available in June, July, August and September.  The vessel leaves the dock at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m.  Passengers should arrive 30 minutes before departure, boarding begins at 6:15 p.m. Passengers are welcome to bring snacks and their favorite bottle of wine or beer aboard…don’t forget to bring plastic glasses!  The vessel leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk.  Parking is available adjacent to the dock and the Norwalk Maritime Garage.  Tickets for this Adult cruise only is $25 ($26.87 with service fee). For tickets click here https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3342004?cookie_header=1https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3342004?cookie_header=1

About the Seaport Association

The Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens in Norwalk who had a vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage.  This year makes the 150 anniversary of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

The Norwalk Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation and consideration for our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment and maritime heritage.

Experiencing the Beauty of Birds on Long Island Sound

It is no surprise that Connecticut’s best-known birding sites are located on the shore of Long Island Sound, where observers can spot waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds along with migrant birds of all types.  As the third smallest state in the country, amazingly, Connecticut boasts 430 different bird species; and one of the state’s birding “hotspots” is Sheffield Island.

If you are a bird lover with a checklist of bird species that you have seen in Connecticut, and want to add seabirds to your list, hop on board the CJ Toth Quest, a 49 passenger ferryboat with the Seaport Association on Sunday, June 10 or Sunday, June 24 for their annual Bird Cruise that runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Passengers on this three-hour excursion led by Larry Flynn, Master Wildlife Conservationist agree that each cruise is always exciting because they can never anticipate what bird species might fly their way!  “Every cruise is different, and just when you think you have it all figured out, these birds will do something else that surprises you,” says Flynn. “We have seen stand-downs between large gulls or falcons attempting to prey on smaller birds and sometimes larger birds and their chicks.  It’s truly amazing what you can see on these tours."

Among the types of birds you may see on this National Geographic styled cruise are nest sites and nesting colonies of ospreys and long legged egrets with their graceful S-curved necks and long dagger like bills.  On this three-hour cruise, passengers may spot American oystercatchers, herons, terns, gulls, cormorants and many others.

A highlight of the trip is the chance to explore the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge on Sheffield Island.  Here you will find a variety of habitats that support nesting and wading birds.  There is also a small population of herring and greatblack-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield’s rocky shoreline.

The importance of Sheffield Island to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and these special bird cruises give passengers the chance to spot these magnificent creatures on and off the water at an awe-inspiring and safe distance with a knowledgeable guide.

The cruise will depart at 8:30 a.m. on June 10 and 24. Passengers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. The boat leaves from the Seaport Dock that is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk. Parking is available at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Parking Lot. Tickets are Adult: $25, Members and Seniors: $20, Children 4-12 years old: $15 and Children under 3 are $5.  For Reservations contact 203-838-9444 or 1-800-838-3006.  On the day of the cruise contact the dock phone at 203-838-2898.  Or visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3345925?cookie_header=1

About the Seaport Association

Formed in 1978 by a group of local citizens the Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper's Cottage provide a unique historical and educational landmark that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration of our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, present, and future. As an Association, we are dedicated in our efforts to preserve our maritime heritage, the environment of Long Island Sound, and helping children experience our 150-year-old lighthouse on Sheffield Island.