nothin New Haven Independent | Cool Events This Weekend, Here & Beyond

Cool Events This Weekend, Here & Beyond

Unk DaRos at the Quarry

If you haven’t yet explored the Stony Creek Quarry, you have a chance on Saturday. Former First Selectmen Unk DaRos (Branford) and Carl Balestracci (Guilford) will lead the group and share the quarry’s fascinating history. Then, kick back and enjoy some Sunday jazz at Home’s Living Room on Main Street. Check out our other listings for many other art- and music-related events.

Friday, May 18

Poetry with the Branford Land Trust

The Branford Land Trust will host an evening of poetry featuring shoreline poets Carol Altieri, Juliana Harris, Nancy Meneely, and Jen Payne. The event will be held at the historic Branford Land Trust House (26 School St., Stony Creek) tonight from 6:30 to 8:30pm There will be an open mic at 6:30 p.m. and all are welcome to share a poem about nature or the environment before the reading.

Altieri is a retired English and environmental science teacher. She was the Senior Poet Laureate for Connecticut in 2011, is the author of five books of poetry, and recipient of the State of Connecticut’s Green Circle award for environmental stewardship.

Harris has contributed poems to The New York Times, The Mid-America Poetry Review, The Best Times, Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Kansas City Star, among other publications. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, she now lives in Guilford, CT where she is a member of the Guilford Poets Guild.

Meneely has published poetry, book reviews and articles in a variety of literary publications and newspapers. Her book, Letter from Italy, 1944, which provides the libretto for the oratorio of the same name, was published by Antrim House in 2013 and was the only book of poetry awarded in the Legacy Non-fiction category of the 2016 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.

Payne writes relationships with nature, creativity, and mindfulness, and how these offer the clearest path to finding balance in the frenetic, spinning world. In 2014, she published LOOK UP! Musings on the Nature of Mindfulness. Her latest book Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind features 75 poems about nature and the environment, as well as 80 original and vintage photos.

Books will be for sale and refreshments follow the reading, which is free and open to the public.

The Branford Land Trust is a non-profit organization, celebrating 50 years of protecting Branford’s open space and natural resources. For more information about the Annual Meeting and other upcoming events, visit www.branfordlandtrust.org.

Saturday, May 19

Farmers’ Market Grand Opening 

The Dudley Farm Summer Farmers’ Market will hold its grand opening with Planting Day, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 19, at the Dudley Farm, corner of Routes 77 and 80.

Farmers and artisans will be selling seedlings and plants direct from the farm, in addition to their usual seasonal and local organic vegetables, meat, sausage, honey, maple syrup, jams and jellies, baked breads and pastries, salsa, goat milk soap, natural body products, and a dazzling variety of hand-made crafts.

Children will be able to decorate a pot and plant a petunia in it, donated by Van Wilgen’s Garden Center, and assisted by volunteers from 4‑H and Guilford High School. The Dudley Farm String Band will perform, and Melly P’s Panini truck and Gypsy Joe’s Coffee will be there. Support your local farmers and artisans, and enjoy a stroll through the historic farm gardens, and visit the sheep, oxen, and chickens.

The market meets weekly through October, and offers a Children’s Corner 10 – 11:30. For more information, visit dudleyfarm.com, Facebook, or call 203 – 457-0770.

Stony Creek Quarry Tour

Join The Guilford Keeping Society and The Stony Creek Museum to tour Stony Creek’s famous granite quarries with quarry historians Carl Balestracci and Unk DaRos at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19.

Learn about the quarry past and present from these descendants of quarrymen. Find out about current quarrying techniques from Stony Creek Granite staff member. Tickets at Page Hardware, Breakwater Books, Taken for Granite or on May 19 at the quarry. $15 for adults. No children under 10. Tickets sold limited to 100.

Opening reception for Bruckmann 

An opening reception for well-known New Haven artist, Frank Bruckmann, will take place on Saturday, May 19, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St.

Bruckmann studied art at the DuCret School of Art in New Jersey, the Art Students League in New York, and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and spent eight years traveling between France and Spain painting en plein air. His scenes of Monhegan Island in Maine and his home in New Haven capture viewers with his strong sense of mood. His paintings will be on display through June 30.

On the same night, the Young Adult Artists Lodge (YAAL) will display their art in the Studio Gallery and hosting a poetry reading. Frank Bruckmann will be doing an art demonstration of a still life before the opening, beginning at 3:30 p.m., ending at 5:30 p.m. with the reception following. 

Their show runs through May 29. For more information, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected] and visit the gallery website www.branfordartcenterct.com.

Guitarist John Knowles in Concert 

AcousticMusic.Org, 1250 Boston Post Road, Guilford, hosts John Knowles at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 19 for a special evening of acoustic guitar, followed by a workshop with Knowles on Sunday May 20, at 1 p.m. for guitarists wishing to take their playing to another level.

Knowles has worked with the world’s finest fingerstyle and classical guitarists including Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, Tommy Emmanuel and the Romero Family. He has won a Grammy and two Emmy nominations

Tickets for the show will be $35. Reservations for the performance and workshop are recommended. For more information, call 203 – 458-8353 or email [email protected].

Sunday, May 20

Sunday Jazz at Home

Sunday jazz performances take place at Home’s living room” (1114 Main St.) from 5 to 8 p.m. The schedule includes Preston Mad Dog” Murphy and friend, May 20; and Jeff Fuller Duo, May 27.

For more information, go to www.homerestaurantct.com.

Branford Clean Up

Denali will sponsor a Branford Cleanup on Sunday, May 20, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in an effort to preserve and protect vulnerable coastal wetlands, specifically the Lindberg Marsh.

Participants are asked to park on Castle Rock Street. The access point is on Stannard Avenue. Gloves, pickers, and trash bags will be available, and participants are invited to bring their own supplies too. Dress appropriately, and be ready to get wet.

Wednesday, May 23

Appy Hour’

A hands-on workshop on apps and parental controls will take place Wednesday, May 23, at Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Bring your own device, learn options for protecting your children and how to monitor activity. Bring your questions, try to stump the technical expert.
RSVP at [email protected].

Monday, May 28

Memorial Day in Stony Creek

Memorial Day will be observed in Stony Creek on Monday, May 28.

The parade forms at the Veterans’ Memorial Triangle and begins promptly at 8 a.m., with laying of wreaths at the monuments of all veterans from Stony Creek who have served in the various wars. This is followed by the flag raising ceremony, a selection by the Stony Creek Drum Corps, gun salute and Taps.

The parade steps off immediately following and proceeds to the Stony Creek Cemetery.

The Stony Creek Memorial Day parade is never cancelled due to rain.

Transportation to and from the cemetery is being provided for any veterans needing it.

For more information, call Unk DaRos at 203 – 488-7029.

Wednesday, May 30

Books n’ Brews

This month Books & Brews will discuss either The Dog Starts” by Peter Heller or The Farm” by Tom Rob Smith. The group will meet Wednesday, May 30, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thimble Island Brewery, 16 Business Park Drive. Come to the meeting and grab a book for next month, or borrow one from the library or purchase a copy.

Feel free to bring your own snacks. Thimble Islands offers a selection of craft beers (must be 21+ to drink alcoholic beverages), wine, soda, and water. No purchase necessary to take part in the book club. New members welcome. For more information, call the Blackstone Library, 203 – 488-1441.

Thursday, May 31

Blood Drive

Branford Fire Department will host a Red Cross Blood Drive at its headquarters, 45 N. Main St. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 31. To schedule an appointment, call 800 – 773-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Friday, June 1

F2G2 Game Night 

Meet at Blackstone Library for game night. F2G2 (First Friday Game Group) is a friendly board game group that meets on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. to play a wide variety of tabletop board and card games.

Games and instruction will be provided. There are nearly 100 games in the library’s collection, something for everyone! Adults of all experience levels are welcome. For more info and to RSVP, visit us meetup.com/everyday-adventurers.

Saturday, June 2

Open House 2018 

Meet Branford Firefighters and tour of the firehouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Fire Headquarters, 45 N. Main St. Watch various demonstrations including motor vehicle accident extrication. Take a look at the new training facility and learn how to see with the thermal imaging camera.

The Branford Fire Department will also sponsor Hands Only CPR” training in conjunction with the South Central Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. There will also be talks on community safety and awareness.

For more information, go to Branford Fire Department on Facebook.

Wednesday, June 13

Nautical Paint & Sip 

Painted by the Shore will host a nautical Paint & Sip event at Thimble Islands Brewing Co., 16 Business Park Drive, from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 13. Participants will paint nautical coasters for their home or patio. Ticket price, $35, includes materials and instruction from Painted by the Shore, plus a glass of wine or beer from Thimble Islands Brewing Co. Feel free to bring food to the event. For tickets, visit www.paintedbytheshore.com.

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