There’s lots happening in a lot of places this week, but you might just want to camp outside Cafe Nine all week. The venue at the corner of State and Crown is your one-stop haven for local bands, New York punk poets, and benefit concerts for beloved bike stores. If film is more your thing, there are numerous cool screenings at Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center.
Monday, April 27
The Real Dope
A pre-release screening of Nigerian-American director Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope, about a pack of high school “‘90s hip-hop geeks” in present-day Inglewood, California. A$AP Rocky, Keith Stanfield, Zoë Stanfield, and Tyga are among the cast members. 7 p.m. Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St.
Tuesday, April 28
Happy Birthday, Catalina
New Haven-based singer-songwriter Catalina Gonzalez celebrates her birthday with the Floridian rock duo Killmama, Connecticut singer/actor Elle Sara and other friends, 8 p.m. at Cafe Nine (250 State St., 203 – 789-8281). $5.
Wednesday, April 29
Morphine and Me Too
Post-Soviet Russian director Aleksei Balabanov, who died in 2013, has been receiving a retrospective series of his “shocking and controversial” films this semester at Yale. It ends tonight with a double feature of Morphine, from 2008, and Balabanov’s final film Me Too from 2012, plus introductions by Dasha Ezerova and Mihaela Mihailova from Yale’s Slavic Languages department and a reception. 5:30 p.m. at the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St.
A Lyrical Pecha Kucha
Pecha Kucha holds its 24th itinerant cultural gathering 7 p.m. at Lyric Hall (827 Whalley Ave., 203 – 389-8885). The event, where tapped-in movers & shakers make presentations about stuff they’ve learned, is a benefit for the Lyric, which is facing cash-flow problems.
Elevada Going Up
Sheila Callaghan’s new comedy Elevada has its opening night tonight at the Yale Repertory Theatre (corner of Chapel and York streets, 203 – 432-1234). Jackson Gay (who helmed These Paper Bullets! at the Rep last year) directs the world premiere production, which runs through May 16. The cast includes Laurel Casillo, Greg Keller, Alfredo Narciso, Keira Naughton … and five dancers!
The Best of All Possible Worlds
The theatrical rock artist Voltaire, who veers from horror to sci-fi parodies, is at Cafe Nine (250 State St., 203 – 789-8281). Ego Likeness is also on the bill. 8 p.m. $12, $10 in advance.
Thursday, April 30
Fat Cat Film
New Haven Free Public Library (the main one, 133 Elm St.) screens John Ennis’s Pay 2 Play, about egregious deals made between elected officials and their big donors. 8 p.m. (203) 946‑8130.
Beethoven Round One
The Yale Schola Cantorum is singing Beethoven’s Mass in C Major 7:30 p.m. at Woolsey Hall (500 College St., 203 – 776-2616).
Young One-Acts
Student directors and actors from Southern Connecticut State University present an evening of one-act plays by Tony Kushner (“Reverse Transcription,” directed by Matthew Horowitz), Hillary DePiano (the world premiere of “Daddy Issues,” directed by Marcelle Morrisey) and Woodbridge-based playwright Susan Cinoman (“the Bull,” directed by Gwendolyn Kirkland). Tonight and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. $10, $5 seniors, free for SCSU students. In the black box space at Lyman Center, on the SCSU campus at 501 Crescent St. (203) 392‑6154.
Lunchtime
Poet/provocateur Lydia Lunch and her backing band Retrovirus bring a ‘90s New York village vibe to Cafe Nine (250 State St., 203 – 789-8281). Downtown Boys open. 9 p.m. $15, $13 in advance.
Friday, May 1
Beethoven Round Two
A Yale symposium on “Beethoven’s Sacred Music in Context” takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. at Sterling Memorial Library (120 High St.). The keynote is Daniel K.L. Chua on “De-Secularizing Beethoven.” (203) 432‑5062.
Greasing the Devil’s Gear
Devil’s Gear bike shop has been under a financial strain, so besides its fundaising page (go pledge already), there’s a benefit at 8 p.m. at Cafe Nine (250 State, 203 – 789-8281). Acts include Seth Adam, Space Orphans, Chris Bousquet, Rudeyna, and The Tet Offensive. $10.
Saturday, May 2
Smoothing the Waters
A smooth-jazz klatch of vocalist Jeffrey Osborne, saxman Kim Waters, and keyboardist Brian Simpson are at Lyman Center on the SCSU campus at 501 Crescent St. (203) 392‑6154.
Zero Hour
The sibling dance-pop duo Mission Zero holds its CD release party at Cafe Nine (250 State St., 203 – 789-8281) alongside the Brooklyn bands Boy Girl Party and Teen Girl Scientist Monthly. 9 p.m. $7.
Terrapin Station
Terrapin (and you know that’s a Dead reference) is the jam band tonight at Stella Blues (204 Crown St., 203 – 752-9764).
Sunday, May 3
Comedy Impact
Joker’s Wild Comedy Club is holding a fundraiser for the youth athletics program CT Impact 7 p.m. tonight, with jokes from Pat Oates and Darren Rivera. $20. 232 Wooster St. (203) 773‑0733.
