Whether it’s a CD release, a historic anniversary, or some good old fashioned produce, the next few weeks present plenty of opportunities to celebrate the new, the old, and the timeless. This week, check out the famous Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra at College Street Music Hall, or head down to the Shore Line Trolley museum to commemorate the day they opened over 115 years ago.
On the docket for August North Branford’s 15th annual Potato and Corn festival and an upcoming performance of the Two Gentlemen of Verona, which will be coming to the Guilford Green as a part of their annual Shakespeare on the Shoreline event.
Thursday, July 28
Branford Jazz on the Green: Vandell Andrew
Born in the same city as the genre of jazz itself, the 28-year-old billboard jazz saxophonist, former trumpet player, and New Orleans native Vandell Andrew has become recognized all over the world for his smooth, original compositions. Tonight at 6:30 p.m., Andrew will take to the Branford Green in this week’s installment of the Branford Jazz series, the full schedule for which can be found here. For more information about the artist, visit his website at: http://vandellmusic.com/
A Woman’s Reason: Shakespeare Round Table at the Blackstone Library
Shakespearience Productions will be hosting a reading and discussion of two scenes from their upcoming play, Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Blackstone Library tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Readings will be performed by members of the audience, while the Round Table discussion will be facilitated by Shakesperience Artistic Director Emily Mattina and members of the cast. The full production will be held on the Guilford Town Green from August 3 – 7.
Dark Star Orchestra at College Street Music Hall
For 15 years, the critically acclaimed 7‑person band known as Dark Star Orchestra has been bringing the Grateful Dead concert experience to audiences all over the world. On Thursday, July 28, the band will continue this tradition at New Haven’s College Street Music Hall, located at 238 College St. The show is open to all ages. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets cost between $22 to $27. To reserve one, click here.
Friday, July 29
Marshall Tucker Band: Free Concert in the Hamden Town Center Park
Having helped shape the genre of southern country rock as a nascent band in the early 1970’s, the Marshall Tucker Band is still touring and recording nearly 45 years after their original debut. Next Friday, join them for a free concert at in Hamden’s Town Center Park, located at 2761 Dixwell Avenue. The event, brought to you by the Town of Hamden and the Hamden Arts Council, will begin at 8 p.m. and end at midnight. .
Saturday, July 30
Craft Brew Races, New Haven
Celebrate local craft brewing, an active lifestyle, and the surrounding New Haven community at the New Haven Craft Brew Race. The event will be take place from noon to 4 p.m. next Saturday, July 30 in Edgewood Park. Each event consists of a timed 5k road race followed by a local 3‑hour craft beer festival featuring more than 20 local, regional and national breweries. For more information, visit the event website here: http://craftbrewraces.com/newhaven/
Saturday Cinema at the Blackstone Library: The Boss
The Blackstone Library will be hosting a free screening of Universal Pictures’ The Boss, featuring Melissa McCarthy, next Saturday, July 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This comedy is rated R for sexual content, language and brief drug use.
Summer Food & Supply Drive for Homeless Felines
Photo by Krista Hanniford
Branford Compassion Club will hold its summer food and supply drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at BCC’s Feline Rescue & Adoption Center, 2037 Foxon Rd, North Branford.
The shelter is in desperate need of canned and dry cat and kitten food, Yesterday’s News cat litter, paper towels and kitchen trash bags. Cash donations and gift cards are also appreciated.
Stop by and visit the cats and kittens available for adoption, and see their newly constructed screened outdoor patio. Lemonade and cookies will be served. BCC’s complete wish list is at www.branfordcompassionclub.org.
Founders Day at the Shore Line Trolley Museum
Commemorate the 116th anniversary of the historic opening of the Branford Electric Rail Line, at the Shore Line Trolley Museum. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with trolley rides to the yard and tours of the buildings. At 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., there will be two parades of trolley cars, featuring Trolley and Work cars, as well as about 20 trolleys from the earliest to newest at the museum. The event will also feature an Open Barn Collection Tour, history lessons, quarry tour, live band, games for children, and plenty of food and ice cream in the yard. For more information, go to www.shorelinetrolley.org.
Short Beach Community Picnic
The Short Beach Union Church Fundraiser in support of Short Beach Days 70th Anniversary will take place at Pardee Park on Saturday, July 30, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $10 and $15, sold in advance. Choice of hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, or lobster rolls, all with assorted salads. Family games, live music and raffles.
For more information, call Kate, 203 – 483-7012 or email [email protected]; or Robin, 203 – 415-5613 or [email protected].
Sunday, July 31-Monday, August 1
Overnight Moby Dick Marathon in Mystic Seaport
On Sunday, July 31, climb aboard the decks of the 1841 wooden whale ship Charles W. Morgan and get ready to read and listen at Mystic Seaport’s annual Moby Dick Marathon. The 24-hour reading extravaganza will be followed by an old-fashioned celebration of the 197th anniversary of Melville’s birthday with song and a great, white cake.
Visitors are welcome to BYOB — that is, bring your own book. Any food and beverages aside from water are otherwise prohibited on the ship. However, participants may bring a picnic to enjoy on-grounds or purchase a meal at one of the Mystic Seaport Museum’s restaurants.
Any participant who wishes to stay overnight must pre-register by phone at 860 – 572-5331. For more information about the event, visit the event page at the Mystic Seaport website here.
Tuesday, Aug. 2
Celebrate National Coloring Book Day
Are you part of the adult coloring phenomenon? Grab your favorite book and pencils and join like-minded devotees at RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, at its Coloring Happy Hour, which will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. Come sit, sip (beer and wine!) and snack. Check out the selection of Beautiful coloring books to add to your collection and giveaways will be available. Free, no registration required. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203 – 245-3959.
Kids celebrate National Coloring Book Day with a few peaceful minutes of coloring – in or out of the lines – and a kid-friendly snack from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at R.J. Julia Booksellers, Coloring books, crayons, markers and pencils galore. Free, no registration required. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203 – 245-3959.
Wednesday, August 3‑Sunday, August 7
Shakespeare on the Shoreline: The Two Gentlemen of Verona
A tale of love, friendship, fools and dogs, this classic Shakespearian comedy will be on full display on the Guilford Green next week from August 3 to August 7. The performance, brought to you by Shakespearience Productions, will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night over the course of its five day debut. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $20.
Friday August 5‑Sunday August 7
North Branford Potato and Corn Festival
Join our northerly neighbors next weekend from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7 as they “elevate two starchy staples to extraordinary heights” at their 15th annual Potato and Corn Festival. Along with plenty of potatoes and corn, the event will also feature food vendors, craft vendors, potato sack races, corn shucking contests, tractor pulls, a car show, live music, and a fireworks display. The festival will be hosted at Augur Farm, 290 Forest Road, Northford. For more information, including festival hours and a full schedule of events, visit http://nbpotatofest.com/
Friday, August 5‑Saturday, August 6
Merchants Sidewalk Sale and Town-Wide Tag Sale in Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivorytown
Homeowners and businesspeople all over Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivorytown will be bringing their bargains outdoors at the Merchants Sidewalk Sale and Town-Wide Tag Sale next weekend from Friday, August 5 to Saturday, August 6. For more information, visit http://essexct.com/event/town-wide-sidewalk-tag-sale/ (Please note: the Town-Wide Tag sale is one day only, and will take place on August 6).
Saturday, August 6
First Saturday Walk with Shoreline Greenway Trail
Enter a world of mountain laurel, tulip trees, osprey nests, and spectacular views of the Branford Preserve and Farm River with members of the Shoreline Greenway trail in their first Saturday walk on August 6. The outing will also be an opportunity for guests to learn about recent Recreational Trail Grant from the State of Connecticut to build a multi-use (bike and hiking) trail in Farm River State Park. The 1.5 mile walk will begin at the DC Moore Elementary School parking lot (located at 82 Elliot St, East Haven) at 10 a.m., and is expected to take about 1.5 hours. For more information, visit http://shorelinegreenwaytrail.org/2016/07/august-first-saturday-walk-east-haven/ or call Barbara at 203 – 469-9127.
CD Release with Jeff Fuller & Friends
Jeff Fuller & Friends will be celebrating the release of their second CD, “Shoreline Blues,” on Sunday August 6 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, at Fornarelli’s Ristorante, 99 Orange Street, New Haven. The band, featuring Darren Litzie on piano, Ben Bilello on drums, and Jeff Fuller himself on both upright and electric bass, will be performing music from their newest project: a ten-track album featuring originals in the bop, swing and Afro-Caribbean vein, and two unaccompanied solo bass pieces. For reservations, call the restaurant at 203 – 745-5677.
Saturday, Aug. 13
Natural History Museum Field Program Offers Quarry Tour
The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Archaeology Center at UConn presents a behind the scenes tour of Branford’s historic Stony Creek Quarry. The program will be led by Stony Creek Quarry’s Darrell Petit on Saturday Aug. 13, at 10 a.m.
Petit will present a close-up look at the famous quarry; he will discuss how the large granite deposit formed millions of years ago and how various quarrying methods evolved over time.
Stony Creek granite crystallized around 360 million years ago. The granite was first quarried in 1858 and makes up a great deal of New York City’s architectural history, from the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and the walkways of 42nd and 34th Streets, to the prestigious college campus of Columbia University. It has also been integrated into the foundations of many city landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Station. Today the valued granite is used throughout the world.
The program fee is $20, $15 for museum members/donors. Advance registration is required. This program is for adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For further information visit http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html or call 860 – 486-4460.
Woofstock on the Branford Green
No, that’s not a typo. On the 13th of August, canines and caretakers alike are invited to the Branford Green for a day of peace and music, the proceeds of which will benefit Branford’s Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. The annual event will feature not only live acts such as “Chewy and the Grateful Friends,” but also a Woof Walk for homeless pets, a Hippie Dog contest, a dunk tank, a raffle, a children’s area with a bouncy castle and obstacle course, and vendors selling plenty of food and goodies for you and your furry friends.
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person that will go towards animal rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing. For more information, or to register for the Woof Walk or the Hippie Dog contest, visit the event’s website at http://www.woofstockonthebranfordgreen.org/
Sunday, August 14
Paint Night to Support the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative
Enjoy a night of painting and socializing at the Branford Art Center Gallery and Art Workshop from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 14. Proceeds from the event will benefit the BECC’s 2016 – 2017 professional development series, the Branford Early Care Provider Roundtables. The event is BYOB/wine and snacks. All other materials are included.
To register, contact Jennifer Kelly at [email protected] by Saturday, August 6. Payment for the tickets, which cost $40 per person, can be made by credit card by calling Yvonne at: 860 – 334-4642 or you may bring a check the night of the event after registering. There are only seven spots left, so don’t wait!
Sunday, Aug. 21
Classic Car Show
The Branford Rotary Club’s Annual Classic Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Branford Alps Farmers Market lot (near Wendy’s off Route 1).
The event benefits the Club’s charitable events and organizations in honor and support of veterans, including the “Take-A-Vet Fishing,” an annual Veterans Day Luncheon, and US Marine Justin Eldridge Children’s Education Fund.
More than150 Classic Cars are expected with raffle prizes and trophies awarded. Spectator admission is free. Food and beverages available. For sponsorships or 10’x10’ vendor spaces under the big tent, visit www.branfordrotary.org or email [email protected]
Ongoing
Branford River and Harbor Tours
Summer Wind Charters offer river, harbor, sunset tours and more for couples or families. There are a variety of packages and rates, skippered by Captain Mark, a licensed United States Coast Guard 50 ton Master Captain with a Sail Endorsement and chaplain of the New Haven Power Squadron.
Discover the natural beauty of the Branford River and Harbor. Climb aboard and enjoy the splendid views and learn some interesting facts and lore about the area.
Call 203 – 430-8288 or go to www.summerwindct.com.
Sally E. Bahner contributing reporting for Cool Events
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