Special Events

Each year, Essex Meadows hosts a series of events for residents, their friends and family members, and those who have expressed interest in our community and have become part of our extensive mailing list.

Past events have included lectures, art show openings, golf tournaments, garden parties, a wine tasting, and numerous concerts. Sky divers landed at Essex Meadows in 2007, which could only be topped by a visit from American writer, investigative journalist and Hollywood producer Dominick Dunne.

2008 Event Schedule

2008 Art & Exploration Lecture Series

This is our fourth year for the popular Art & Exploration lecture series which features artists and authors of note who live in our area. In the 2005 series, we brought you acclaimed garden designer, Louis Raymond, oceanographer, Dr. Robert Ballard, and National Book Award-winning writer, Julia Glass. In the 2006 series, we brought you Lowell Weicker Jr., Nicholas Clements, and Jane D’Arista. 2007 welcomed Chad Floyd’s lecture on green architecture, Stephen M. Davis, Ph.D. on corporate governance, and Jerry P. Roberts, maritime historian and the new Executive Director of the Connecticut River Museum. 2008 will also prove to be a year of thought-provoking and stimulating lectures. Our guest lecturers this year will include...

Jim Benn, author · August 7th at 2 p.m.

Jim Benn has spent his life in the world of books. For decades, he has worked as a librarian, but a few years ago this Lyme resident turned his hand to fiction writing, publishing his first novel about a young soldier-sleuth during World War II. The sequel, The First Wave, features the same protagonist and was published this year to rave reviews, including a write-up in the Sunday New York Times Book Review.

John Rafal, financial advisor · May 8th at 2 p.m.

John Rafal, president of Essex Financial Services, was recently named the Number One Independent Financial Adviser in the United States by Barron’s, the premier financial weekly. For the past four years, Mr. Rafal has been included in Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisers, a listing that primarily includes advisers from large national and international firms. Mr. Rafal, who lives in Old Lyme, started his own business in 1982 and joined with Essex Savings Bank in 1998. Over the years, he has seen Essex Financial Services grow into a highly respected advisory firm with assets of more than $2 billion.

And returning by popular demand...
Nick Clements · October 16th at 2 p.m.

Nick Clements is an international investment banker and lawyer who concentrates his activities in Asia and the United States. Until recently, his Asian focus has been primarily on mainland China, but he recently turned his attention to Vietnam. Mr. Clements, a Lyme resident, acts as an advisor to government entities, has served as a commentator on CNN, and has taught seminars at Yale University. How does the economic climate in Vietnam compare to China’s? How are the two emerging markets different? He’ll cover these topics and others in his second appearance as part of the Art & Exploration series for 2008.

For more information on event dates and times, please contact us.

Additional Programs

Additional programs as well as exact dates and times to be determined. If you or someone you know would like to receive personal invitations to any or all of the wonderful concerts and lectures offered at Essex Meadows, please use the
Contact Us option to join our growing mailing list of active adults looking for the lifestyle of choice!

* Please note that program subjects and speakers may change based upon speaker availability.