Mashantucket Pequot Museum's 25th

Cultural gem marks a quarter century

An historic gala in Mashantucket and launch of exhibit 'Our Moons'

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center celebrated its 25th Anniversary Aug. 11 with a colorful gala, pairing the moment with the launch of a new art exhibit called (take your time pronouncing this one) "Kunâhneepamuhshâtunônak" or “Our Moons."

The feel-good gala, with special guests, performances and awards to former museum directors and tribal partners, took place in the soaring-glass, central Pequot Museum Gathering Space.

The exhibit, which we previewed Friday in its gallery space at the 308,000-square-foot museum, opened to the public a day later and runs through summer 2024 (included with museum admission). In various artistic media, the exhibit shines a historic and cultural spotlight on the Pequot people, especially the Indigenous teachings of how the cycles of the moon have provided guidance and support for the original people of the Northeast.

It's a worthy exhibit (more on this coming in a fall edition of Connecticut Magazine). But back to the gala, which itself served not only to raise money for the museum and its educational mission during a time when many museums and theaters are struggling (the anniversary initiative is called "Meesumôk Neetôp" in Pequot) but it also proved to be a hearty affirmation of the facility's vital role in telling the dramatic and often-hidden story of this people's survival in the Northeast.

Mashantucket Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler, fresh back from a vacation, he noted, said the museum's grand opening in 1998 marked a profound milestone in Pequot history, representing the resurgence of  Pequot ancestors. The tribe ultimately survived and overcame "a systemic effort to exterminate and disburse us from the earliest of Colonial times.

"The Pequot museum," he said to hundreds of invited guests and tribal members, "has effectively represented our tribal history, our land and traditions, Northeastern woodland tribal culture and the history of America through an Indigenous perspective, to millions of visitors all over the world for the past 25 years."

And in this polarized American culture that includes political battles over what to teach public school students about American history and racism, museum Executive Director Joshua Carter noted the state's recently successful partnership with Connecticut’s recognized tribal nations to create a new Native American studies model curriculum. The museum's scholars and artists, including Carter, whose art is represented in the show, know a thing or two about that stirring history.

Some photos from the mid-August gala:

Visitors enjoy a moment in the shadow of the 185-foot stone tower and glass gathering space that welcomes visitors and was the setting for the night's gala.

   The hallway leading to the "Our Moons" exhibit at the Pequot Museum.

The gala scene at the Pequot Museum Sept. 10.

                                 The cloud-like center area of the "Our Moons" exhibit.

                                  Artist Jonathan Perry chats outside the art exhibit.

               Jonathan Perry's Fish Moon Necklace features a large copper centerpiece.

Casino beat

Hell's Kitchen opens at Foxwoods

Foxwoods Resort Casino recently hosted the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen eatery, located in the Grand Pequot concourse at the sprawling resort.   

Taking advantage of the long-running television series featuring the mercurial Ramsay, the restaurant represents another celebrity-centered move for the culinary scene at Foxwoods, with its previous success of Guy Fieri's Foxwoods Kitchen & Bar and David Burke Prime. 

Chef Gordon Ramsay appeared only in a video to welcome guests to his latest restaurant. Afterward, attendees sampled menu items such as Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding. The restaurant opened to the public July 15. Reservations are available online.

A private dining room at Hell's Kitchen, flanked by Ramsay's images.

A chef prepares food at Hell's Kitchen.

                         A signature dish at Hell's Kitchen: Beef Wellington.

Happenings at the casino

 Spring has sprung at Mohegan Sun

Friday night (May 5) will bring a Sip and Salsa event at Mohegan Sun's Novelle eatery/night club, where dance fans can learn some steps from two-time winner of Dancing With The Stars Val Chmerkovskiy (left). As seen previously at Mohegan's Tequila event, patrons can mix their own margarita by pedaling the Patrón Bike. You also get a ticket for a complimentary Cointreau margarita in celebration of the cocktail's 75th anniversary. There will also be a taco bar station and upbeat Jazz music by Latin Essence along with beats of DJ Lezlee. Tickets are $50 on the website. 

-- Another big dance event will take place in November at Mohegan Sun. Derek Hough will return with a another experience this fall wit Derek Hough Symphony of Dance with special guest Hayley Erbert. The professional dancer and decorated choreographer will play Mohegan Sun Arena on November 25 at 7 p.m. This tour follows the sold-out successes Derek Live: The Tour, and of Move Live on Tour and Move – Beyond – Live on Tour, including multiple sellouts at top venues such as Radio City Music Hall. Tickets are $89.50, $59.50, $49.50 and $39.50.

-- Also coming in the fall, reigning ACM Group of the Year and CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Old Dominion, recently announced a new leg to their renowned U.S. No Bad Vibes tour. Visiting 30+ additional arenas nationwide, country group Old Dominion will kick off this new round of dates on September 7 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI and will arrive at Mohegan Sun Arena with special guests Jameson Rodgers, Niko Moon and Kassi Ashton on Friday, September 22.Tickets are $129.50, $99.50 and $79.50 and go on sale Friday, May 5 via ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning Saturday, May 6.

-- But back to the warm-weather events at Mohegan Sun. 

Grammy-nominated country singer and songwriter Walker Hayes will return to Mohegan Sun Arena ater this month – this time on his own headlining tour. Walker  performed back-to-back sold-out shows at Mohegan Sun Arena alongside Kane Brown and Raelynn last June. Special guest Tenille Arts joins Walker Hayes on May 27th at the arena this time. Tickets are $79.50, $59.50, and $49.50.

Iconic British duo Tears For Fears will bring their North American 2023 summer tour – The Tipping Point Tour Part II – with special guest Cold War Kids to Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, June 24.

Tickets are $149.50, $129.50, $99.50, $79.50, and $59.50. The 1980s band sold more than 30 million albums worldwide with singles such as “Shout,” “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” “Mad World,” “Sowing The Seeds of Love,” and “Woman In Chains." In 2022, the band released their latest studio album The Tipping Point, which garnered solid reviews, including with longtime fans.

 

The Uncasville resort will mark a decade’s worth of Sun BBQ Fest the weekend of June 17-18. Once again, there will be some mouth-watering grilled food, cold beer, hand-crafted cocktails and  performances by international Country artist Kameron Marlowe and American Idol star HunterGirl. Guests will have the chance to experience 50 different BBQ options, full plate vending from nationally acclaimed BBQ vendors, sample small bites in the “People’s Choice Competition” and taste up to five different styles of Wings & Ribs in the annual competition. Sun BBQ Fest will also showcase World Food Championship sanctioned barbecue teams that compete nationally. Tix are $15 for Saturday and $10 Sunday. Kids under 12 are free.

-- Summer goes by quickly, so don't miss it. Which reminds us: Multi-platinum pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer will kick off the North American leg of their 2023 world tour – The 5 Seconds of Summer Show -- at Mohegan Sun Arena on Aug. 10.Tickets are $89.50, $69.50, $59.50. As Mohegan Sun puts it: Since forming in 2011, 5 Seconds of Summer – comprised of Luke Hemmings (vocals/guitar), Michael Clifford (vocals/guitar), Calum Hood (vocals/bass), and Ashton Irwin (vocals/drums) – have released four albums and numerous hit singles. They were quickly hailed as the “biggest new Rock act in the world,” by Rolling Stone, and are the only band in history to see their first three full-length studio albums enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1. The band has sold more than 3 million concert tickets while touring the world several times over and sold more than 13 million albums.

-- The Jonas Brothers announced their most ambitious outing yet, a massive 35-date stadium and arena run – THE TOUR – where the band will perform five albums every night. The momentum comes after their successful sold-out Broadway engagement and their two-date Yankee Stadium sell-out that will kick off off the tour in August. They'll be at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17. Tickets are $169.50, $149.50, $129.50 and $99.50 and go on sale Friday, May 12 via ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, May 13th, subject to availability. (Tickets for this run of shows will be in high demand, so the Verified Fan presale will be fans’ best shot at tickets. The tour is using this platform in order to ensure tickets get into the hands of fans directly. Fans can register now through Saturday, May 6.)

-- If you like your music dark and Gothic, the groups Motionless In White (right) and Grammy Award-nominated act In This Moment will co-headline a run across North America this summer featuring special guests Fit For A King and From Ashes To New. The Dark Horizon Tour arrives at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, July 8. Tickets are $59.50, $49.50, and $39.50. Notes Mohegan Sun: "Motionless In White harnessed the power of an unholy union between Industrial Metal dissonance, spellbinding Gothic Pop bombast, and big screen-worthy iconography to emerge as the 21st century Rock’s most iconoclastic and cinematic force. Climbing out of the shadows of the rustbelt in Scranton, PA, the group have tirelessly earned the undying allegiance of a devout worldwide audience one record at a time."

-- Multi-platinum Danish rock band Volbeat will perform this summer in Connecticut as part of their 18-date North American summer tour in support of their eighth studio album Servant Of The Mind. The heavy metal/rock/rockabilly group is due to perform at Mohegan Sun Arena with special guest Halestorm on August 3rd at 7 p.m. Tickets are $69.50, $59.50, and $49.50. If you'd like to avoid icky Ticketmaster, you can score tix at Mohegan Box Office. 

Says Mohegan: Since forming in 2001, Volbeat has gone from the clubs of Copenhagen to headlining stages around the world, including the famed Telia Parken stadium in Denmark (becoming the only domestic artist to ever sell out the venue). Over the course of eight record-breaking albums the band has picked up number one songs and...contributed a cover of “Don’t Tread on Me” to The Metallica Blacklist, with all proceeds from the track going to charity.

Events coming soon in CT

Train, Styx & Fogerty in CT soon

Coming up this spring and summer at CT venues? Older fans will appreciate our first item, with this group's harmonies and orchestral accompaniment.

--  The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring EVIL WOMAN - The American ELO will play Mohegan Sun Arena at 8 p.m. on April 21. Tickets are an affordable $19.50 and go on sale Friday, March 17th at 10 a.m.

-- Kenny Loggins will bring his This Is It! Final Tour 2023 with special guest Yacht Rock Revue to Mohegan Sun Arena at 7:30pm on Thursday, September 14. Tickets are $199.50, $149.50, $129.50, $99.50, $79.50 and $39.50, and go on sale Friday, March 17 at 10 am via ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning Saturday, March 18th, subject to availability.

-- Take the Train: Fans will have an opportunity to witness multi-Grammy and Billboard Award-winning band Train, above, when they return to Mohegan Sun Arena with special guest Better Than Ezra at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 19. Tickets are $99.50, $59.50, and $49.50, and go on sale Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m.

-- Classic classical: This one sounds like a winner. HSO MASTERWORKS SERIES: MOZART 40 will have three performances March 31 - April 2 at the Belding Theatre in the Bushnell in Hartford. The headline work is Mozart's Symphony No. 40, but the underrated Joseph Bologne will be showcased in his Symphony No. 2; the third piece is Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3.

-- 

-- Comedian and podcast host Theo Von will bring his live show to Mohegan Sun Arena as part of his Return of the Rat Tour at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 21. Tickets are at Mohegan Sun Box Office or (not our choice) Ticketron.

-- Grammy Award-winning country superstars, Dan + Shay, return to Mohegan Sun Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5. Tickets are $129.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50. Says Mohegan: The duo’s Platinum-certified self-titled third album included global hit “Tequila,” multi-format hit “Speechless,” and No. 1 Country song “All To Myself.” In the 10 years since they’ve formed, Dan + Shay have garnered more than 10 billion global career streams to date, 46 total RIAA certifications and achieved nine No. 1 singles at Country radio. (I'm not hip to country, so I'll just say, "Cool."

-- Over at Foxwoods Resort Casino, the Great Cedar Showroom will feature The Joe Perry Project Saturday, April 15, at 8 p.m.  Perry formed the band shortly before his departure from Aerosmith in 1979.

-- A band called Generation Radio will bring 1980s rock hits to the Great Cedar Showroom April 28 at 8 p.m. The group is led by Grammy award winning bassist Jay Demarcus of country act Rascal Flatts and Jason Scheff, who was lead vocalist and bass player for the multi-platinum band Chicago for over 30 years.

-- Come Sail Away with Styx when the band takes over the Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino Fox Tower May 13 at 8 p.m. Says Foxwoods: The six men comprising Styx have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide by entering their second decade of averaging over 100 shows a year.

-- Foxwoods' huge Premier Theater will also host George Thorogood & The Destroyers with .38 Special on May 19 at 8 p.m. As the Foxwoods release puts it: On the evening of December 1st, 1973 at The University of Delaware’s Lane Hall, a guitarist, a drummer, and their rhythm guitarist set up on the small bandstand. Though the three-piece band had barely rehearsed, guitarist George Thorogood and drummer Jeff Simon had been bashing out covers of songs they loved – including ‘No Particular Place To Go’, ‘Madison Blues’ and ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’ – in suburban Wilmington basements since they were teens. 

-- And one more at Mohegan Sun. Legendary musician and songwriter John Fogerty is celebrating his music with The Celebration Tour.  Fogerty returns to Mohegan Sun Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. Tickets are $99.50, $59.50, $49.50, and $39.50.

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Casino events

Whiskey Union rolls in April 7-8

 It's less than a month until Mohegan Sun's latest alcohol-tasting event, and this one is for aficionados of whiskey, rye, scotch and bourbon. Not that there won't be other drinks to sample in the form of spiked seltzers, ciders, beer and other offerings, but the 7th Annual Whiskey Union puts whiskey and similar traditional hard liquor in the spotlight.

It's a fun event, judging from previous versions in Uncasville, with a few caveats. First, no hard alcohol (and depending on which recent study you consult, no alcohol at all) is good for you in the long run. So moderation, water, food and a relaxed pace are part of a plan to keep the side effects at a minimum. Mohegan planners are good at providing bottles of cold water to guests, a big plus for them. And it's Easter weekend, so it's already a busy time for many folks.

With a few added offerings this year, the attraction is now Sun Whiskey Union Weekend, with the Saturday evening main event ($70) joined by four new, limited-capacity events starting on Good Friday evening:

For a heady approach to the whiskey topic, you'll need to lay out some extra bucks, but you'll get to chat with experts and distillers.

A Japanese Whisky Dinner at upscale TAO Asian Bistro and Lounge at 5 p.m. Friday ($250) offers a three-course meal with a specialty craft cocktail at entry and whisky pairings from the folks at Michter's Distillery.

Another event Friday, Spirits & Cigars, will take place at Clay Pipe Cigar Bar at the resort. For $120, attendees can taste several offerings from Mohegan Sun's limited Barrel Select Program. Pours will come from nine single barrels including the latest releases, Maker's Mark, Private Reserve and Whistle Pig Piggyback. There will also be Breckenridge and Elijah Craig Bourbon, along with Knob Creek Bourbon and Rye. And yes, tastings will be paired with a complimentary Clay Pipe infused cigar.

On Saturday at 6 p.m., the same location will hosts Friends of Laphroaig ($125), offering a private first taste of Laphroaig Single Barrel Cask Barrel selected by Mohegan Sun and available to the public later this year, as well as three added items from Laphroaig. Adding discussion will be reps from Beam Suntory.

The fourth event, also at Clay Pipe Cigar Bar, will cap Saturday night events at 11 p.m. The nightcap gathering ($50) will include two specialty cocktails and one infused cigar.

As for the most popular event, Sun Whiskey Union ($70 admission), it will run from 8-11 p.m. in the Earth Ballroom (part way into the huge Earth Expo and Convention Center). There will be live music by  Jason Ingriselli & The Miles North, many stations of whiskey, scotch, bourbon and rye, and some pouring  craft cocktails, as well. Food bites will be provided by Bear's Smokehouse and NoRA Cupcake Co.

Two more points about it: A portion of ticket proceeds will go to support the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. And there will be a silent auction of items from the sports/entertainment world that will also benefit United Way.

 

Casino News

Foxwoods marks 31 years

Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen to open this summer

Foxwoods President and CEO Jason Guyot announces the Gordon Ramsay partnership.

Foxwoods Resort Casino celebrated its 31st anniversary Friday with a quick speech or two, a cake cutting and giveaway, prayer, ceremonial drums, a blanket dance and the announcement that the resort's latest restaurant this summer would be a Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay.

A couple hundred people milled around a stage near the Rainmaker Expo Center to hear a quieter version of last year's 30th anniversary event (when the big news was that Great Wolf Lodge would be building a water park at the resort). In brief remarks, Rodney A. Butler, the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, referred to that project's groundbreaking recently as well as he additions of high-stakes bingo and the expo center.

Butler noted how the sprawling casino is an "economic driver in the region."

Foxwoods President and CEO Jason Guyot said the Mashantucket resort is already "much more than just a casino" and that officials are looking forward to Foxwoods becoming the "greatest integrated resort destination on the East Coast."

Celebrity chef Ramsay was seen in a brief video message in which he said he was excited to open the Foxwoods location. Unlike his TV show, Ramsay neglected to curse or yell at anyone. The graceful prayer of thanks and blessings for the casino resort was provided by Shirley Patrick (also known as Laughing Woman), who is an elder and spiritual leader of  Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.  

Rodney Butler, tribal nation chairman, at the event.

The returning drum circle group Yootay Singers sang and banged a drum to herald the start of the proceedings and also provided backup for two young women who did a short blanket dance.                                                                                                    

In a release, Foxwoods said the Hell's Kitchen restaurant will be located in the Grand Pequot Concourse at the resort, which also has a restaurant by TV restaurateur Guy Fieri. The Ramsay eatery will seat nearly 260 guests, featuring a chef’s counter and 40-seat private dining room. It will be Ramsay’s sixth location of Hell's Kitchen.

The menu will feature signature classics from the show, says Foxwoods, including Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding, as well as an extensive wine list, craft cocktails and beer list.

   Two young women do a blanket dance at the Friday announcement and    celebration.

Casino beat

Seen & heard at Sun Wine & Food Fest

Demonstrations were held in the Coca-Cola booth near the front of the Expo Center.

Neviana Zhgaba, co-owner of Aquila's Nest of Newtown, at Sun Wine & Food Fest.

Celebrity chef Robert Irvine chats with a fan at the Celebrity Chef Dine Around.

Dining out

A new season (and reason) to break bread -- in  Restaurant Week

Spring and fall versions of Restaurant Week in Connecticut will arrive soon enough, with three-course prix fixe meals (typically) consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert, as well as some individual specials on items.

Are they are bargain? Maybe. Here's the thinking of some regulars who enjoy the marketing concept:

Restaurant Week encourages groups of friends and family to take a meal together. Which is fun.

For one price (plus drinks, tax and tip), you get can a nice sampler of the restaurant's fare. Especially (and this is key for many) if the restaurant is an upscale one that you've been wanting to visit. So make a reservation early.

The selection is often a bit limited, with only a handful of apps or entrees on the prix fixe list. But usually the choices are crowd-pleasers.

Individual cities such as New Haven do well with this concept for a couple of weeks per year, spurring business during otherwise slow or modest business periods. 

And then there's Mohegan Sun's Restaurant Week, which is coming Jan. 22-26 (leading into the big Wine & Food Fest weekend).

Mohegan's eateries generally can be a bit pricey, of course. It's been a while since the bargain-and-beloved Seasons Buffet closed (a COVID casualty that never returned). So Restaurant Week at least adds a little more value to the mix for five days, at places such as TAO (below) and Michael Jordan's.

Here's some highlights of the week's planned specials:

TAO

TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge will have a Pu-Pu Platter filled with Crispy Tuna, Satay Bass, Chicken Satay, Gyoza and a Lollipop Wing for $30. This offering is available only from Jan. 22-25, 5 p.m. to close.

Tuscany

The Prix Fixe Menu at Todd English’s Tuscany ($45) features a choice of a Tuscan Salad, Caesar Salad, or Lobster Bisque as the first course. Next is the option of Shrimp Fra Diavolo with two U-12 Shrimp, Spicy Marinara, and Linguini Pasta; 4 oz. Crispy Skin Salmon with Parmesan Polenta, Sautéed Oyster Mushroom, and Lemon Butter; or a 4 oz. CAB Filet (Certified Angus Beef tenderloin) with Sautéed Spinach, Silk Potato and Demi-Glace. Finish it with a choice of Sorbet Gelato with Chocolate Biscotti; or Tiramisu with Coffee Ganache and Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans.

Ballo

At Ballo Italian Restaurant (also priced at $45), the first course is a choice of either classic Caesar Salad, Arugula Salad, or Meatballs Pomodoro. Second is a choice of Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Francese, Tagliatelle or a Berkshire Pork Chop Milanese. For dessert, you get Espresso and Dark Chocolate Cannoli.

Michael Jordan's 

Michael Jordan's Steak House is one of those extraordinary eateries for a special meal; the prix fixe is $55 here for:  House Cured Salmon featuring Smoked Lemon Crema, Asparagus Salad, Sourdough Toast and Citrus Vinaigrette. The second course is a Beef Cheek Pappardelle with tender Red Wine Braised Beef Cheek and Broccoli Rabe. And dessert is Callebaut Chocolate Bread Pudding and Vanilla Ice Cream.

MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill

The sports bar's prix fixe offering is $34 and features Broccoli Salad appetizer of Charred Broccoli, Arugula, Pumpkin Seeds, Orange Vinaigrette and Pomegranate Molasses. The main entrée consists of Braised Short Ribs with creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli Rabe, and Mushroom Leek Sauce. For dessert, there is Chocolate Bread Pudding with Callebaut Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream.

SolToro

SolToro ithree-course meal for $34 includes Tuna Tostada with Tuna Tartare, Guacamole, Cabbage, Crispy Corn Tortilla and Soy Chile Dressing for the first course. The main course features Birria Tacos with Braised Beef with Consommé and Monterey Jack Cheese inside a fresh Corn Tortilla. Dessert is a Chocolate Bread Pudding with Callebaut Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream.

Sushi Koya

Sushi Koya will offer, for $40 per person, starters of either Miso Soup or Edamame. The second course consists of a choice of Dinosaur Eggs with Spicy Tuna wrapped in Avocado, Pork Gyoza or a five-piece Sushi Appetizer with Rice. The final course is one of the many sushi roll options including the Dancing Eel, Black Samurai, Mermaid, Koya Roll, Volcano Roll, or Salmon Lover. 

There is also a special or two at Ben & Jerry's and Game On.                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                           

Casino beat

Quick lowdown on weekend of high notes at Mohegan Sun Jan. 26-29

Admission is not cheap in this shaky economy, almost no one wears a mask despite flu and COVID threats, and its definitely not aligned with the health considerations of "dry January." But the four-day, 14-event Sun Wine & Food Fest is still Mohegan Sun's premier weekend of adult fun and eats in Connecticut.

It's a  tonic itself, this Wine Fest (not Whine Fest). We'll call it part of a semi-dry January, just for this colorful outing in the great indoors. And many seem to agree. The fest is selling well, with some of its smaller events marked "sold out" weeks ahead of the Jan. 26-29 weekend in Uncasville.

Thursday, Jan. 26's two-seating TAO Japanese Whisky Dinner is sold out for its 5 p.m. pairing of a three-course meal at upscale TAO with Japanese whisky (spelling without the "e" in Japan). Another seating ($300 a seat) will be at 6:30 Thursday.

The same evening will bring a Todd English Experience at the celeb chef's Tuscany restaurant ($225 inside or $175 near the waterfall for day-of tickets). English will host a craft cocktail hour and seated dinner. To sweeten the deal, O.A.R.’s Marc Roberge and Loverboy’s Kyle Cooke will perform music during the event.

A Ferrand Cognac and Cigar Pairing will also take place Thursday at Clay Pipe Cigar Bar at 8 p.m. ($125 on the day of the event).

Come Friday evening, the crowds grow larger at the Uncas Ballroom and Earth Expo & Convention Center. A Sake and Dim Sum Pairing at TAO is sold out at 5 and 5:15 p.m. But you may be able to get into the Beam and Burgers event presented by Beam Suntory at 6 p.m. ($125) in the Earth Ballroom.

The big, BIG room -- Earth Expo Center -- hosts the Grand Tasting Preview from 8-10 p.m., where we not only sampled dozens of brands of tasty wine last year but we noticed many varieties of spiked seltzers, wine-related goods, books, sauces and other non-wine offerings splayed across the expanse of the convention site where food demos are held on a stage at one end.

New this year is the inclusion of small food bites being included in the ticket price in addition to larger food items for sale on the floor's perimeter. Admission is $125 day-of, which makes it a bargain compared to Saturday's version of the Grand Tasting.

Nyesha Arrington at a recent Sun Wine & Food Fest.

Another sold-out event will be Spirits & Cigars from 9-11 p.m. at Clay Pipe (including brands such as Bulleit Bourbon, Cruzan Rum and Patrón tequila).

At 9 p.m. in the eatery/night club novelle, you can check out a Toast with the Host event with Loverboy founders Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula, stars of Bravo’s Summer House, as they host from behind the bar. Sponsored by Loverboy Sparkling Hard Tea and Premium Canned Cocktails. ($65)

Saturday brings the five-hour main event, the Grand Tasting, at the Earth Expo Center from noon to 5 p.m., featuring more than 1,000 varieties of wine, beer and spirits along with those included food bites and for-purchase larger food items. If you've never strolled the huge SWFF, it's something to see and experience. ($160 on the day of event.)

For those of you who order fine wine while dining out and who maintain wine cellars or fridges at your home, you will aspire to the annual Vintage Cru event, hosted this time by Chef Rocco DiSpirito and Chef Christian Petroni in the Earth Ballroom from 4-6 p.m. ($165). Where else can you sip a cab from a $95 bottle of wine at one table and a $58 Barolo from the next table? (You can sign up for case shipments to your house, too. Oh boy!) Tickets include a $50 iGourmet gift card.

Also Saturday at 6 p.m., the "exclusive" Pappy Van Winkle Tasting at the Clay Pipe is, alas, sold out. But the night's culinary standout is the excellent Celebrity Chef Dine Around ($275, above photo) from 8-10:30 p.m., when some 20 celebrity chefs team to pair a tasty small plate of food with a wine, beer or spirit. This is definitely one version of heaven for variety lovers, although it presumes you didn't go whole hog for the sips and gulps at the Grand Tasting earlier.

                       Chef Michael Symond in 2022 (Photos by Mohegan Sun.)

The celebrity chefs will be schmoozing afterward at a party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Avalon nightclub (there's a cover charge, and surprise guests promised).

The Sunday event, also fun and also celebrity-hosted, will be the Bloodys & Brunch With Buddy (TV personality Buddy Valastro) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at novelle. But it is sold out, so all we can say is plan earlier next year. 

-- Joe Amarante

Casino beat

 A look back at a few Sun Wine Fests

With the 2023 Mohegan Sun Wine & Food Fest coming up in less than a month, we offer a look at previous wine fests. The movie sampler here by Joe A. is from January 2022. Several of the food shots are from the delicious Celebrity Chef Dine Around (separate admission).