Connecticut Weekender » This Weekend

“Artist As Curator” Exhibition displays New Haven area artists

a Guest Contributor — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:18:12 +0000

On display at the Kehler Liddell Gallery

New Haven, CT – This month the Kehler Liddell Gallery presents ARTIST AS CURATOR, an exhibition curated by the gallery’s artists, who live and work in New Haven and surrounding areas. The exhibition began on July 1st and continues until August 8, 2010. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, July 11 from 3–6pm, with an artist talk at 3pm.

Connecticut has a rich history of attracting artists to settle along its shoreline. Over the past decade, New Haven has established itself as one of the Northeast’s most densely populated, academically minded artist enclaves, poised to become an alternative to the New York art scene.

For this exhibition, each Kehler Liddell Gallery artist has invited one regional guest artist, whom he or she thinks is making exceptional work, to partake in the show. The result is a compelling installation of new painting, sculpture, mixed media constructions, and works on paper.

ARTIST AS CURATOR explores tacit dynamics of the curatorial experience, possibly offering concrete examples of what it means to be an “Aritst’s Artist.” The 22 pairings between artist and their invitees document idea-exchanges that many outsiders have no means of detecting. In many instances, these collaborative relationships are unbound by medium, age or art world status.

Following is the list of artist curators and their invited guests: Joseph Adolphe to Ting Ou-Yang; Amy Browning to Lori Glavin; Frank Bruckmann to Jason Noushin; Jason Buening to Gulgun Aliriza; Susan Clinard to Janice Bielawa; Rod Cook to Melody Best; Emilia Dubicki to Jonathan Waters; Matthew Garrett to Kevin Van Aelst; John Harris to Tom Reilly; Lisa Hess Hesselgrave to Alanna Fagan; Blinn Jacobs to Richard Lytle; Keith Johnson to Andrew Hogan; Gigi Horr Liverant to Jean Dalton; William McCarthy to Catherine Doocy; Lawrence Morelli to Chris Durante; Hank Paper to Terry Dagradi; Joseph Saccio to Fethi Meghelli; Gerald Saladyga to Jeremy Keats Saladyga; Deirdre Schiffer to Thomas Stavovy; Alan Shulik to Douglas Nygren; Gar Waterman to
Richard Carleton; Marjorie Wolfe to Susan Cutler Tremaine.

Gallery Hours are Thursday and Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm, or by appointment.

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Like free ice cream? Look for the Webster Treats Truck

Sean Henri — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:51:21 +0000

The Webster Treat Truck in Torrington, CT

Hartford, CT – Who couldn’t go for a free cone? In celebration of 75 years in business, The Webster Treats Truck will be driving around the greater Hartford area giving out free ice cream starting this week. Here’s a short list of some of the upcoming stops:

Today: 6/3 – New Milford, CT & Torrington, CT
7/8 – Main Branch, New Britain, CT (1 PM – 5 PM)
7/8 – Porter & Chester Institute, Rocky Hill CT (10:30 AM – 2 PM)
7/10 – Berlin Rotary Alert Program, Kensington, CT (9 AM – 3 PM)

You can follow the Webster Treats truck on Twitter (@WebsterTreats) for additional upcoming stops in your area and live updates from the truck en route. You can also find a full list of dates and locations on the Webster Treats Truck website: http://bit.ly/webstertreats.

Jordin Sparks coming to the Webster Theater this weekend

a Guest Contributor — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:59:55 +0000

Jordin Sparks coming to the Webster Theater

Hartford, CT - Grammy-nominated, “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks is slated to make a stop at Hartford’s Webster Theater this Saturday as a part of The Battlefield Tour.

Following the success of her sophomore album release Battlefield (19 Recordings/Jive Records) and 2009 tour with the Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears, the unstoppable Jordin Sparks launched her summer headlining tour beginning this June. Jordin’s tour will hit over 35 major theatres across the U.S., ending on July 18th. Tickets for the “Jordin Sparks, The Battlefield Tour, Presented by MIKE AND IKE®”, are on sale now.

Her standout album Battlefield debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart with her hit single of the same title, peaking at #6 on the Pop singles charts. Fans and critics alike rave “The strength of the tunes-and Sparks’ vocals…plays up her versatility” People Magazine, “Battlefield certainly delivers on the artistic end. . . [with] Sparks, showing heretofore unseen vocal dexterity” Entertainment Weekly and “Battlefield,” her expertly constructed second album, upholds a darker, more experienced tone… Sparks is becoming more compelling“ New York Times.

Jordin also recently announced she will make her Broadway debut in the 2008 Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights. 20 year old Jordin Sparks will play Nina Rosario in a limited 12 week engagement starting on August 19, 2010 through November 14, 2010. Performing from a young age, Sparks has enjoyed some impressive company in the world of female Top 40 radio. On the heels of becoming the youngest American Idol winner in 2007, Jordin released her self-titled debut album and went on to sell over 1.6MM copies worldwide. “Jordin Sparks”, which earned U.S. platinum status, spawned three Top 5 Billboard Pop hit singles including “Tattoo”, “No Air” and “One Step At A Time”. Cumulatively, these popular singles have sold almost 9MM downloads and ringtones. In addition to winning an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and receiving two MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Female Video and Best New Artist; she earned one of the music industry’s highest honors with a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “No Air.” This multi-faceted performer is also known for her philanthropy, which includes her own project, the I’m M.A.D. Are You? campaign as well as other charitable efforts.

MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies is pleased to mark the second year of its exclusive partnership with Jordin Sparks. MIKE AND IKE® along with its charitable partner Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer™ (ALSF) will once again join Sparks to present a custom branded experience including a tour vehicle, a green screen photo booth where fans get a free virtual photo with Jordin and samples of their favorite MIKE AND IKE® fruit flavored candies to take home. New this summer, MIKE AND IKE®and Jordin Sparks will be giving away concert tickets viaradio stations in select U.S. markets. At concert events, fans will engage with MIKE AND IKE® Tour Ambassadors, learning about Sparks’ support for ALSF, a charity which MIKE AND IKE® has been supporting with donations through its LEMONADE BLENDS® variety for over two years. Exclusive Jordin Sparks content and promotions will be available on mikeandike.com. MIKE AND IKE® will also continue to share exclusive content on its facebook page and via twitter.

Check back Sunday… we’ll have a review!

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Today: Black Rock Pub Crawl for Breast Cancer Awareness

a Guest Contributor — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:08:58 +0000

Black Rock Pub Crawl

Black Rock, CT - This afternoon the 3rd Annual Black Rock Pub Crawl once again will benefit the huge endeavor of finding a cure for the second leading cause of death among American women today, breast cancer. According to the U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group, 192,370 women (and 1,910 men) were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,61 women (and 440 men) died from breast cancer in 2009

Last year, the 2nd Annual Black Rock Pub Crawl raised over $5,000 in donations for breast cancer, while providing new business and patronage for the establishments of Black Rock.

The Pub Crawl begins today, June 5th, 2010 at The Field at 12:00pm and ends at Lady Luck at 6:00 pm. Crawlers will follow a path through most of the establishments of Black Rock to support those businesses for their participation, as well as raise awareness about breast cancer and raise money for research for a cure to this deadly and widespread disease. Your $20 donation will include your entry to the crawl and a Black Rock Pub Crawl T-shirt. All proceeds will go to The Norma F. Pfreim Breast Care Center.

As always, the pub crawl supports responsible drinking, and any donations will be gratefully accepted.

Participating bars:

Cafe Tavolini
The Field
Matty’s Corner
Ash Creek Saloon
Little Joe’s
Ray Kelly’s
Frankie’s
Brennan’s Shebeen
Lady Luck

Click here to register for the Pub Crawl – http://www.planetreg.com/E51119147130

If you have any questions please email blackrockpubcrawl@blackrockpubcrawl.com

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New Jellies Exhibit Now Open at Mystic Aquarium

a Guest Contributor — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:53:44 +0000

Jellies Exhibit is free with admission

Mystic, CT – Immerse yourself in a world of jellies. From the outside, this new exhibit at Mystic Aquarium resembles a 20-foot-tall sea nettle floating on water. Under its dome, special lighting showcases the fascinating features of six very different jelly species, from moon jellies, often spotted in Long Island Sound, to unusual upside-down jellies and comb jellies, which look like they have electrical currents running through them.

Guests can also see how moon jelly polyps are being cultured right at the aquarium. Trickling water from a two-sided water wall inside the exhibit adds to the experience. The wall, sponsored by Aquarion Water Company, features streams of water running over hand-blown glass fish and jellies created by renowned local artist Jeffery P’an of Prescient Studios in Stonington.

The exhibit is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mystic Aquarium, which is located at 55 Coogan Blvd. in Mystic, CT 06355. For more information please visit www.mysticaquarium.org.

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Mystic Seaport to Host Annual Lobster Days Memorial Day Weekend

a Guest Contributor — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:26:11 +0000

Lobster Days at Mystic Seaport

Mystic, CT - Mystic Seaport will host its 25th annual Lobster Days Memorial Day weekend, Saturday through Monday, May 29-31.

Lobster-in-the-rough will be served by members of the Rotary Club of Mystic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meals will be served picnic-style under the open-air Boat Shed along the Mystic River.

The weekend offers special activities for visitors of all ages including daily presentations detailing the Noank lobstering industry at 11:30 a.m., 12:15 and 2 p.m.; lobster salad cooking demonstrations in the Museum’s Buckingham Hall House and “Fishing the North Atlantic” dory demonstrations alongside the schooner L.A. Dunton.

Children are invited to lobster story time in the Children’s Museum and to meet local fisherman and author, Vivian Volovar, who will be at the Museum Store throughout the weekend signing copies of her children’s book, Lobster Lady.

A special combination ticket of Museum admission and a single lobster dinner is available for $39, offering a $6 savings. The youth combination ticket (ages 6-17) is $32, offering a $4 savings. A senior combination ticket (ages 65 and older) is available for $37, offering a $6 savings.

A lobster dinner can be purchased separately from Museum admission for $21 (single lobster) and $37 (twin lobster). Lobster platters include coleslaw, corn on the cob, drawn butter and choice of iced tea or lemonade. Hot dog platters are available for $7. Coastal Gourmet, the Museum’s food service provider, will also be offering a raw bar, New England clam chowder, clam fritters and a cash bar.

Mystic Seaport members save by presenting their membership card at the Visitor Center to receive a $2 coupon valid for any single or twin lobster dinner purchase. Family memberships receive six coupons maximum. Discount does not apply to hot dog platters.

Lobster Days is the Rotary Club of Mystic’s major annual fundraising event. Proceeds are distributed to local charities supported by the club. Lobster Days has been the main fundraising activity of the Club for many years with all profits going toward the support of local non-profit organizations, including the Mystic & Noank Library, Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut and Mystic Little League. The Club was a major contributor in the establishment of the Mystic River Park and Mystic Depot Welcome Center.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/lobsterdays.

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Currently celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaleship in the world. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport to Celebrate Opening of New Exhibit with TUGS! Blast Weekend

a Guest Contributor — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:43:37 +0000

TUGS! Blast Weekend

Mystic, CT - Visiting tugboats, special activities and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Connecticut State Senator Andrew Maynard will highlight TUGS! Blast at Mystic Seaport Saturday and Sunday May 22 – 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The weekend will celebrate the opening of TUGS!, the Museum’s newest exhibition that traces the past, present and future of the American tug, tow and barge industry. Designed for visitors of all ages, the exhibit features custom-created videos, stories, rare artifacts, historic images and large-scale graphics, hands-on activities, audio/visual elements and outdoor programming.

Mystic Seaport President Steve White and Senator Maynard will be joined by Connecticut State Representative Diana Urban; Karen Senich, executive director of Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism; Alex Agnew of Professional Mariner magazine and representatives from tugboat companies that have supported the exhibit in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, May 22, at 12:45 p.m. The ceremony, which announces the grand opening of TUGS!, will take place outside of the Museum’s R.J. Schaefer Exhibit Hall.

Visiting tugboats docked at Chubb’s Wharf throughout the weekend include Gwenmor Marina’s Gwendolyn, Thames Towing Services’ Adam and John Paul and private yachts North Star, Seahorse, Trilogy and Tuggly. Special events featured during TUGS! Blast include a marine engine and watercraft open house at the Museum’s Collections and Research Center, lectures exploring interesting tugs of yesterday and today, an exploratory talk of the TUGS! exhibit, marine engine demonstrations in the Museum’s Shipyard and radio-controlled tugboat demonstrations in the Museum’s new outdoor shallow pond.

Linda Gramatky Smith, daughter of Hardie Gramatky who authored and illustrated the children’s book, Little Toot, will give a reading of her father’s classic tugboat tale at the Children’s Museum Saturday, May 22, from 10:30 – 11 a.m. Gramatky Smith will additionally speak about her father and his accomplished career in her talk “Memories of Little Toot and My Father, Hardie Gramatky” at the Greenmanville Church Saturday, May 22, at 3 p.m.

Additionally, visitors can take part in a variety of hands-on activities throughout the weekend including a heaving-line toss, friendly games of tug-of-war and creating a tug craft. Children are invited to story time in the Children’s Museum and to build a wooden tugboat keepsake (nominal fee for toy boat workshop).

Funding for TUGS! has been made possible with a $149,136 grant awarded to Mystic Seaport from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Individual donations and in-kind support will additionally help fund the exhibit. With leadership support from American Waterway Operators, the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut, the Dibner Family Foundation, G&H Towing, Professional Mariner, the Tugboat Enthusiast Society and an anonymous family foundation in hand, Mystic Seaport seeks to match the IMLS grant funds in total. Those interested in supporting the project can contact Chris Freeman at 860.912.3121 or at chris.freeman@mysticseaport.org. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/tugsblast. TUGS! will remain open through spring 2011.

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Currently celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Museum features a re-created 19th-century seafaring village, tall ships, a working preservation shipyard, exhibits and a planetarium. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

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Pete Francis on StageOne in Fairfield this weekend

a Guest Contributor — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:05:39 +0000

Pete Francis on StageOne

Fairfield, CT - New York City based singer-songwriter, Pete Francis will perform at Fairfield’s Stage One this Sunday, the 23rd, at 7:30pm. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at to www.fairfieldtheatre.org or at the door.

Francis is set to release his new album The Movie We Are In this May 2010. Whereas Francis’ previous solo albums were largely self-produced, he uprooted his more traditional approach to album-making and assembled an entirely new crew with Los Angeles based producer Jeff Trott (right hand man to Sheryl Crow as writer and guitarist).

Says Francis, “In the past I’ve worked with acoustic guitar, bass, drums, B3 organ, but I wanted to bring a modern electronic element into my music. When first speaking with Jeff Trott, I quickly realized he had great musical instincts and that he was getting my tunes. And then, he brought ideas to the table that I hadn’t imagined. I saw a new musical landscape could be created with my songs by working with him.”

The musicians that Trott assembled for the recording sessions helped to create this colorful landscape. Having worked with artists such as Beck, Nine Inch nails, Gnarls Barkley, Willie Nelson, Queens of the Stone Age, Dr. Dre, and Scott Weiland, the musicians (Brian LeBarton, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, John O’Brien, Victor Indrizzo and others) provided an extraordinary musical palette of talent and sensibility.

When asked about the project, Trott says, “It really became apparent to me that Pete was a very creative and colorful song-writer. What I liked was that there was this very good sense of Pete’s personality from happy go lucky to dark and brooding. All these aspects were amazing to work with and the lyrics were very colorful. I think that’s one of the things I really enjoy about Pete’s songs… that it’s sometimes hard to really figure out what the meanings are and I think that’s missing in a lot of music – the mystery of what a song is.”

The opening track, “Glue”, generates a feeling of weightlessness by combining organic instrumentation with futuristic sounds. This song solidly represents what’s to follow on the album’s consistent mix of fresh and classic, electronic and acoustic, known and unknown… Each listen unlocks a new guitar lick, synth riff, bass groove, drum program, live drumbeat or horn swell, and even the sounds of the sparsely used Ethiopian instrument cumbus. Midway through the album, the listener gets catapulted into the up-tempo and joyous revelry of “Love Shakes You Down” a sing-a-long with the familiar bell sounds of Motown combined with a string synth creating a modern and retro sound all at once. The slower, more melodic songs of the album like “St. Paul’s Fair” and “Didn’t Know I Built It” lure the listener into dream-states with rich deep vocals, sampled sounds from a town square in Italy, trance-like Wurlitzer pedaling, and vivid lyrics.

No one would deny that Francis has earned his stripes in the independent music scene. He formed the fiercely independent band Dispatch in 1995 whose uncommonly loyal fan-base bid them farewell at The Last Dispatch concert in 2004 with an attendance of 110,000 people from around the world. Since then, his career has infiltrated many musical worlds including performing his solo music at festivals around the country, reuniting with his Dispatch pals for three sold out nights at Madison Square Garden, having his solo music featured in films and television, and performing in the presence of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..

Commenting on his new album and departure from his Dispatch days, Francis says, “It’s good to get out of your comfort zone. I tried to let this motto resonate at every turning point of this record’s evolution.” When asked if there is an overall theme to The Movie We Are In, Francis explains, “I like to leave this up to the listener. Hearing an album is similar to visiting a museum. The listener has to have his or her own conversation with the artwork and create their own interpretations.”

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13th Annual Westville Village ArtWalk This Weekend

a Guest Contributor — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:42:26 +0000

New Haven, CT - Westville Village welcomes one and all to the 13th Annual Westville Village ArtWalk on Saturday, May 8, 11 am–10 pm. This free, family-friendly community arts festival features art exhibits and open studios; three stages with live music, dance, and theater; an open-air arts and crafts fair; and a full day of varied activities, art-making, food, shopping, and fun for all ages, followed by dancing in the street on Central Ave. Saturday night!

Join us Friday evening, May 7 from 5-9pm for kick-off events throughout the Village featuring live music, gallery openings, artist receptions, ribbon cuttings, merchant open houses, fashion shows, wine tastings, and more.

For more info and a full schedule of events, go to www.westvilleCT.org

ArtWalk is an annual event of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization, celebration, and enhancement of historic Westville Village.

ArtWalk 2010 is sponsored by Webster Bank, The Tremaine Foundation, The New Haven Register, The United Illuminating Company, Southern Connecticut State University, The City of New Haven Department of Cultural Affairs, International Association of New Haven, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, and Pellegrino & Pellegrino, LLC.

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86th Annual Scout Gang Show This Weekend

a Guest Contributor — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:38:45 +0000

86th Annual Scout Gang Show on May 7 & 8

Derby, CT - The more than 100 members of Cub Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 will present their 86th Annual Scout Gang Show on May 7 & 8 at the Derby United Methodist Church. Part old time minstrel, vaudeville, and variety show, the longest running show of it’s kind has been performed by the scouts since 1922. Scout Gang Shows are performed throughout the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, however the Derby Scout Gang Show, a Lower Naugatuck Valley tradition, is the only one performed in the United States.

The show includes old time songs, skits and jokes. The stooges, who perform run-on skits in between the songs, are under the direction of Venture Crew 33 Committee Chairman Mr. Rodman Kneen, who has been involved with the show since 1932. Venture Crew 33 Scouts serving as stooges are Mac Thompson, Adarsh Salian, Nick Laskos, Michael Neuendorf and Mike Tracz.

Many of the songs being performed this year fall into the theme of “Happy Days are Here Again”, songs such as “I Want to be Happy”, “Happiness” and “Put on a Happy Face” will be performed by the scout soloists and chorus. There will also be a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America with songs such as “Be A Good Scout”, “The Happy Wanderer” and “God Bless America”, written by Irving Berlin, who dedicated the royalties to the Boy and Girl Scouts.

Endmen, or joke tellers for the show include longtime participants Donald King, Matthew Decho, Al Palumbo, and Barry Howard. Joining them as endmen are current Troop 3 Scouts Charles Stankye IV, Alex Oppel, Tyler Stankye and Matthew Frovarp. The Stankye brothers are third generation Eagle Scouts to perform as endmen in the show, joining their father Chuck Stankye III and grandfather Charles Stankye Jr. Marc Weissman is serving as the pianist and Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster John Spinetti is in charge of lights and sound.

Many local community leaders have performed in the show in their youth including former mayors Marc Garofalo, Bill Menna and Gene Micci, Shelton Aldermanic President John Anglace and Center Stage co-owner Gary Scarpa. Stage and screen star Brian Dennehy and 1960s Green Bay Packer captain Bob Skoronski also performed in the show as scouts under pioneer scout leader and Derby Hall of Fame member Edmund D. Strang, who directed the show for a remarkable 70 years. Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter is in his 16th year of directing the show. Ritter said “The show continues to be performed each year because it helps build self confidence for our scouts, it introduces old time songs to a new generation and provides financial support for our three scout groups”.

Tickets to the May 7 & 8, 7:30PM show are available for $7 from Pack 3, Troop 3 and Crew 33 scouts, or by calling 732-0343. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds from the show benefit the scouts attending summer camp at Housatonic Council’s Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation, Cub Scout Day Camp and the scout’s trip to the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.

Cub Scout Pack 3 Derby meets 7PM on Mondays at it’s sponsoring organization, The Derby United Methodist Church. Venture Crew 33 is sponsored by the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club and Troop 3 Derby is sponsored by the Derby 2nd Congregational Church. Both the troop and crew meet on Wednesdays, 7PM at the Derby 2nd Congregational Church. All three scout groups are part of the Housatonic Council BSA and welcome new members from throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

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