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

Cool Events This Weekend, Here & Beyond

Kids head back to school on Monday and the yellow buses have already been seen lumbering down local roads on their dry runs. Did you walk, take the bus, or get driven to school? The Blackstone Library, as always, is hosting a diverse collection of programs, from sleep to birds and board games to book clubs. We’re heading into fair season with the Guilford Fair leading the list since 1859 – you can’t top that for getting back to one’s roots. Speaking of roots, everyone is Italian this weekend at St. George Men’s Group’s Italianfest at St. George Church in Guilford. Grape stomping anyone?

Friday, Aug. 25

Cocktails on the Sound

Friends of Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library will host a fundraiser, Cocktails on the Sound, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, on Linden Point Road, Stony Creek.

Featured will be cocktails, jazz, farm fresh hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, and cash bar. Tickets are $50 for Friends of WWML members, $55 for non-members. For tickets and more information, call 203 – 488-8702.

Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26

Italianfest 2017

St. George Men’s Group hosts two fun-filled nights from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, and from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at St. George Church on Whitfield St. on the Green in Guilford.

There will be homemade Italian foods, beer and wine, and new for this year, a Raw Bar, entertaining and dancing music, face painting, bocce tournaments, wine-stomping contests and a game area for the kids. Admission price is $5 for everyone 16 and older. Music will be provided by The Adler Band on Friday night and Steamroller and Four Barrel Billy Bands on Saturday night. All proceeds will benefit the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford. 

58th Annual Muster

The Westbrook Drum Corps, a senior fife and drum corps, will host its 58th Annual Muster this weekend, Aug. 25 and 26.

The Junior Colonials, Westbrook’s junior fife and drum corps, will officially open the Tattoo on Friday evening at 7 p.m., followed by performances from several corps. Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, the parade will proceed through the center of Westbrook to the Ted Lane Field on Fiske Lane. Fife and drum corps are expected from New England, New York, Delaware, Virginia, and Switzerland. There will be refreshments and vendors selling instruments and music. Members rehearse each Tuesday at 7:00 in the lower level of the building on the town green.

New members are always welcome. Details at westbrookdrumcorps.org.

Saturday, Aug. 26

Summer’s Last Roar 

To recognize the end of summer, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave., will open its doors for a free day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26.

This is a chance to see the new mineral display in David Friend Hall or make one more visit to the Discovery Room before school starts again in September. In addition to the permanent and temporary exhibitions, visitors will have a chance to win prizes, engage in a craft activity, and interact with real specimens on the SciCarts located throughout the museum.

Discounted museum memberships will be available during Summer’s Last Roar. Ask for details at the front desk.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

Books n’ Brews Book Club

The Books n’ Brews Book Club, Blackstone Library’s off-site book club, meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Thimble Island Brewery, 16 Business Park Drive, to discuss Watchmen” by Alan Moore or Visitation Street” by Ivy Pochoda.

New members welcome. Copies of the books can be borrowed from the library, or purchased. Read one of these titles and come out and join the fun!

Bring your own snacks. Thimble Island 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. Call 203 – 488-1441 to register.

Thursday, Aug. 31

Game Night for Adults

Thimble Island Brewery, 16 Business Park Drive, hosts a game night for adults on Thursday, Aug. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. There’s a fun selection of card and board games available including Codenames, Sushi Go Party!, Dixit, & Pandemic. You can also bring your own games.

Registration is required. To RSVP, call 203 – 488-1441, ext. 318.

Saturday, Sept. 2. Labor Day Weekend

Branford’s Shoreline Greenway Trail Walk 

Walk through Branford’s Young’s Park and along the Birch Road section of the Shoreline Greenway Trail. Meet at Young’s Park parking lot, off Blackstone Ave (Route 146). From I‑95 exit 55, go East on Route 1, turning right onto Featherbed Road; take this to end, then turn left onto Damascus. Where road splits, bear right (sign: to Pine Orchard). After you pass UNDER railroad tracks, bear right onto Blackstone Ave and look for park entrance past ball field on right. Meet at 10 a.m.

Questions: Please contact Leo Cristofar: 203 – 214-5824

An Insider’s Look at the Blackstone Library 

If you’re new to town or just curious about that magnificent granite building on Main Street, this is your chance to learn all about it. On Saturday, Sept. 2, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., you can tour the Blackstone Library, learn historical tidbits, and get an insider’s peek into the day in the life of a Blackstone library employee. To register, call 203 – 488-1441.

Thursday, Sept. 7

Cigar and Whiskey Cruise 

Cigar and Whiskey Cruise
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat’s Cigar and Whiskey Cruise takes place Thursday, Sept. 7. Ride the rails on the Essex Steam Train to Deep River Landing then board the riverboat, Becky Thatcher, for an evening of refined pleasures. Sample a premium whiskey selection, snack on treats from the Tuscan table, and indulge in a hand-rolled cigar, provided by Up In Smoke of Cromwell.

Visit www.essexsteamtrain.com or call 860 – 767-0103 for more information and to purchase tickets.

Sunday, Sept. 10

The Mystery of Sleep’

Are you among the sleepless? The Mystery of Sleep – Why a Good Night’s Rest is Vital to a Better, Healthier Life” will be presented by Yale Professor Meir Kryger at the Branford Forum, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Branford Library, 758 Main St. Kryger will discuss his new book. Free.

For more information, email [email protected].

Wednesday, Sept. 13

A New Bird Atlas for Connecticut

Menunkatuck Audubon’s 2017 – 2018 program series will begin with UConn Professor Morgan Tingley presenting an overview of the Connecticut Bird Atlas Project on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Blackstone Library.

Prof. Tingley’s presentation will describe the project’s history, methodology, volunteer training, and need. He has a background in data collected in the field with biodiversity informatics and novel quantitative modeling techniques to understand critical ecological questions about organisms.

The Connecticut birding community will be called on to conduct surveys for the Connecticut Bird Atlas Project starting in 2018. The project will focus on all birds that breed, winter or migrate in Connecticut. It will contribute meaningful data for the State Action Wildlife Plan, to contribute to conservation planning, and to establish Environment Health Metrics.

To register, call 203 – 488-1441.

Friday, Sept. 15 to Sunday, Sept. 17

Guilford Fair

The annual Guilford Fair takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 15, 16, and 17 at the Guilford Fairgrounds. The Guilford Fair, a large agricultural fair that began in 1859, features an extensive array of activities, booths, events and entertainment all included with admission. Ride tickets are additional.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $5 children ages 6 – 11, children 5 and under admitted free. A three-day discount pass is available for $25. Parking on site is $5. There are no refunds in event of inclement weather or show cancellation. Free parking is available off of Exit 57 with shuttle bus service. For the full event schedule visit www.guilfordfair.org.

Friday, Sept. 22

Christine Ohlman at New Haven’s Trinity Church 

Christine Ohlman’s style, dubbed by Rolling Stone Magazine co-founder Dave Marsh, Contemporary Rock R n’B,” will be on full display at New Haven’s Trinity Church On The Green’s Music For Music” Series on Friday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Joined by the Boys and Girls Choirs of Trinity (the series benefits the choir program), Ohlman will celebrate the themes of Love and Water. “‘The River of Love’ has never been needed more than now,” she said recently. I know this concert will be a healing, beautiful thing.”

As a special attraction Ohlman and her longtime band, Rebel Montez —Cliff Goodwin, guitar, bassist Michael Colbath, and native New Havener Larry Donahue on drums — will perform four select pieces with choristers of the Trinity Boys Choir and Trinity Girls Choir. These include Wade in the Water,” The Deep End” and Al Green’s hit single Take Me to the River.”

Tickets are $30 ($10 with student ID), available in advance or at the door. Advance sponsorship packages available including premium tickets and program listing. Call 203 – 624-3101 or at http://trinitynewhaven. org/christine-ohlman/.

Saturday, Sept. 23

A Gardeners’ Market’ sale 

Branford Community Gardens presents A Gardeners’ Market” sale on Branford Green under the tent from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.

Produce, grown by BCG gardeners, cut flowers, assorted plants and baked goods will be available. BCG, Inc. is a non-profit organization that rents garden plots to Branford residents. Fresh, organically grown produce from a 20’ x 50’ plot, maintained by volunteers, is donated to people in need in Branford through the Community Dining Room and the Branford Food Pantry. Visit www.branfordctgardens.org.

Looking Ahead

Sunday, Oct. 1

Animal Awareness Day 

Branford Compassion Club will host Animal Awareness Day from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, on the Branford Green. The Blessing of the Animals is held at 1:30 p.m., along with children’s activities, business vendors, animal rescue organizations, bake sale, food, and music. Details, sponsor, and vendor information at branfordcompassionclub.org.

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