We’re not quite out of the woods yet in terms of weather, but you might want to venture into the woods (with homage to the Broadway musical) to learn about its denizens with Lauren Brown and the Branford Land Trust. Bundle up. It’s sure to be chilly. If music warms your soul, the longstanding Branford Folk Music Society offers a concert that is sure to delight.
Saturday, March 11
Trees in Winter at Killam’s Point
Can you identify a tree by its shape and bark? On Saturday, March 11, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., explore Killam’s Point in winter and how to tell a maple from a beech or an elm or an oak. Guided by local naturalist Lauren Brown, learn about the great variety of trees in southern Connecticut’s landscape.
The event, co-sponsored by the Branford Land Trust and the First Congregational Church of Branford, is free and open to the public.
Killam’s Point, an ecological treasure owned by the church, has healthy forests, secluded beaches, wide salt marshes, granite bluffs and a fascinating array of flora and fauna. Those taking advantage of the collaborative effort of the two organizations will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the largest, privately-owned undeveloped tracts on Long Island Sound.
Killam’s Point is located along Shore Drive just west of the Orchard House Adult Day Care Center. Drive slowly to the end of the road to the parking area. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. For details, call 203 – 747-4184.
Bird Photography Workshop
On Saturday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m., award-winning photographer Stanley Kolber offers his annual Bird Photography Workshop at the Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex.
Kolber has been photographing birds for years, and enjoys sharing his experience with aspiring photographers of all levels, through anecdotes, slides, and question and answer. In addition to helping skills development, his greatest pleasure in giving workshops is the opportunity to kindle and encourage his audience’s interest in the natural world. For details, go to www.ctrivermuseum.org or call 860 – 767-8269.
Swedish Meatball Dinner
Tabor Lutheran Church, 45 Tabor Drive, will host its annual Swedish Meatball Dinner at 6 p.m. .
The cost is $14 for adults, $6 for children 12 and younger, and free for children 3 and younger. Tickets at the door are not guaranteed. Call 203 – 488-2541.
Rani Arbo at Branford Folk Music Society
With a repertoire spanning 200 years of American music, Rani Arbo will offer listeners sublime lead singing, great harmonies, wicked grooves and sparkling original songs when they return to the Branford Folk Music Society on Saturday, March 11, for an 8 p.m. concert in the auditorium of the First Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main St., on the Town Green.
Admission is $25 for non-members, $20 for members and $5 for children age 12 and under. For more information, call 203 – 488-7715 or access the society’s Web page at www.branfordfolk.org/
This will be a one-of-a-kind performance of the band as a trio, featuring Rani on fiddle and guitar, Anand Nayak on electric and acoustic guitars and Scott Kessel on percussion.
The band has performed at a wide range of venues and festival from the Newport Folk Festival to the California World Music Festival, offering up a steadfast brew of wit, camaraderie, and musicality and leaving audiences humming and hopeful with spirits renewed, a good elixir for these troubled times. They have released six albums on Signature Sounds Records, their latest being this past fall’s release of “Wintersong,” a baker’s dozen of works that skip over the holiday canon and dig up the power, beauty and the celebration of the roots of Christmas and the turning of the year.
Sunday, March 12
CT Experiential Learning Center Activity Day and Open House
CELC Middle School in partnership with Bushy Hill Nature Center will hold a free Activity Day and Open House on Sunday, March 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. at its facility, 28 School St., Branford.
Learn about experience-based middle school education and meet Bushy Hill Nature Center staff and the summer programs and homeschool programs for 2017 – 18. Meet teachers and students; participate in hands-on activities, such as cordage making, music, and art; and enjoy some refreshments.
RSVP to [email protected], call 203 – 433-4658, or visit www.CTExperiential.org. For more information, go to www.CTExperiential.org or www.Bushyhill.org
Jolly Beggars Concert
The Jolly Beggars will perform on Sunday, March 12, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St. They bring the rich tradition of Celtic folk music and storytelling to modern day audiences. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Based out of Connecticut, their traditional songs and musical arrangements have exposed many to the joys of Celtic music. They tell traditional stories from Irish folklore and intersperse their musical arrangements with traditional reels and jigs. Characterized by their tight harmonies and use of guitars, mandolin, tin whistles, octave mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo, double bass, bodhran, spoons, and more, The Jolly Beggars have quickly built a solid following and continue to spread their music around the east coast.
Thursday, March 16
Ten Restaurants That Changed America
From Delmonico’s to Sylvia’s to Chez Panisse, a daring and original history of dining out in America is told through 10 legendary restaurants by author and Yale professor, Paul Freedman at Evergreen Woods Community Building, 88 Notch Hill Road, on Thursday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Freedman will speak about his book, answer questions, and share some excerpts. Autographed copies of his book will be available for sale at the event. Call Briana Benn-Mirandi at 203 – 483-3224 or email bbennmirandi@evergreen-woods. com to register.
Friday, March 17
Welcoming Branford
The deadline is Friday, March 17, at 5 p.m. for submissions to “Welcoming Branford,” an opportunity for residents to share information about themselves and learn about the different people who make up the community. The event is held in partnership with East Shore Region Adult & Continuing Education (ERACE).
Responding to a prompt, participants can share something that has meaning – hopes and dreams, a story about a family member (or pet!), something that makes them special. They may also submit a photo that illustrates their story – a portrait, object, or landscape. Big and small, our stories are what make us who we are. This is a chance to share, and connect, with the people in your hometown. Stories and photos will be displayed anonymously in the library rotunda throughout the month of April.
Writing prompts and program details are available at www.blackstonelibrary.org or at any service desk in the library. Welcoming Branford submissions are due no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 17. Email entries to [email protected], and include a photo (portrait, object, landscape) to accompany and illustrate your story. A professional picture can taken for free at the library on March 13 from noon to 3 p.m.
For information about the project call Carly Lemire, 203 – 488-1441, extension 323, or email [email protected].
Through March 19
Winter Wildlife, Bald Eagles
If you prefer to view Bald Eagles from the river, Connecticut River Expeditions of Haddam will offer cruises to view winter wildlife and nesting Bald Eagles through March 19.
Departures on Fridays are at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., leaving from the Connecticut River Museum dock in Essex.
RiverQuest has a heated cabin, but participates are urged to dress in warm layers since the best views will be from the open decks. Bring cameras and binoculars, which will also be available on board. Cost is $40 per person.
For more information visit www.ctriverquest.com or www.ctrivermuseum.org.
Tuesday, March 21
Literature of the American South Continues
“Literature of the American South: Four Novels by Women” presented by Mark Schenker, senior associate dean of Yale College and dean of Academic Affairs, Spring 2017, continues at the Willoughby Wallace Library, 146 Thimble Island Road, with “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston.
On Tuesday, April 18, “The Optimist’s Daughter” by Eudora Welty will be discussed, and “Salvage the Bones” by Jesmyn Ward will be discussed on Tuesday, May 16.
The discussions are free and open to all. Copies of the books are available at the Circulation Desk.
Wednesday, March 22
Long Island Sound’s Lobster: Not Peasants’ Food, Not Fine Art, and Not Endangered
Other than that it tastes delicious with butter, what do you know about the knobbily armoured, scarlet creature staring back at you from your fancy dinner plate? From ocean to stock pot, there are two sides to every animal story, including the lobster.
Learn more from former fishmonger and commercial lobsterman Richard J. King at the Branford Land Trust’s March lecture on Wednesday, March 22, 7 p.m. at the Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St. King is an author, illustrator, and research associate with the Williams College at Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program. He will have books for sale and signing.
Visit www.branfordlandtrust.org for details on additional dates and speakers in the Winter/Spring Lecture Series presented by the Branford Land Trust. All are free to the public.
Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2 p.m.
Titanic at Branford High School
Branford High School Performing Arts will present Titanic at the high school, 185 E. Main St. from Wednesday, March 22, to Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, March 26, at 2 p.m. Titanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone that opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical.
Titanic is set on the ocean liner RMS Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. It is a completely different take on this moment in history and the music is different as well.
Tickets are $15 for students (through high school) and seniors and $18 for adults. For tickets, call 203 – 315-7972.
Wednesdays, March 29 to April 26
Award-winning watercolor artist Pam Morgan will lead a new five-week watercolor class for beginners to experienced artists at Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St. The fee is $120. The materials list will be provided upon registering with Morgan at [email protected] or calling 203 – 453-4295. Morgan will demonstrate the techniques of watercolor painting and provide individual instruction to each student. Concentration on the elements and principles of art: color, line, form, dominance, texture, shapes, composition, and value.
Saturday, April 8
Annual Chili Challenge for a Cause
The fifth Annual Chili Challenge for a Cause is returning to the Branford Green, scheduled for Saturday, April 8 from noon to 3 p.m. The event is a competition between local Branford restaurants – each of the restaurant chefs will be cooking for a charity of their choice. Each restaurant chef will be setup in an indoor location around the Branford Green. This setup encourages the attendees to stop by local merchants and businesses that they may never have visited in the past.
Attendees of the event will pay $10 to stroll Main Street, sample each chili and vote for their favorite. Some attendees will vote for their favorite tasting chili while others might vote for the chef that is cooking for their favorite charity.
When the votes are counted, the winning chef will be awarded a trophy “Branford Best Chili 2017” and a donation will be made to the winning chef’s charity of choice. This event is a community coming together to promote local restaurants, local merchants, and local charities.
To register, go to http://bit.ly/2jR3bep
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