The days are getting shorter, but there’s no shortage of fun activities and opportunities to support your favorite non-profits. Walk, run, stroll, pick out a pumpkin, listen to some jazz… enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve been having. We’ll be buttoned up inside soon enough! Got a cool event? Email [email protected] by Wednesday noon.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Food Drive, Fundraiser for Ferals
Branford Compassion Club will hold its annual fall food drive and fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at its Feline Rescue & Adoption Center, 2037 Foxon Road. The event coincides with National Feral Cat Day, which promotes awareness of and compassion for feral cats throughout the United States.
Branford Compassion Club is in dire need of cat food to get it through the fall and winter seasons, as well as monetary donations to fund spay/neuter programs, which reduce the feral cat population. Volunteers from BCC take care of multiple feral colonies in the surrounding area every day, 365 days a year. Monetary donations and/or donations of unopened canned (pate) and dry cat food can be dropped off at the Branford Compassion Club Feline Rescue and Adoption Center, 2037 Foxon Road in North Branford.
For more info about BCC, go to www.branfordcompassionclub.org.
Walk Like MADD
The 2017 Branford Walk Like MADD is Saturday, Oct. 14, with registration from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m. Participants meet outside Branford Town Hall, on the Branford green.
This year’s walk is held in honor of Deanne Negri, who was critically injured by a drunk driver on Dec. 18, 2013. Negri survived the horrific accident but now lives a life dramatically compromised by the fallout of traumatic brain injury suffered in the crash. Shoreline residents from all area towns are invited to join Negri and her family, a/k/a team “Rebels With a Cause.”
Walkers will trek three miles on a course leading out to Branford Point and then back to Town Hall. For younger kids, mini “Fun Runs” will take place. Walkers receive a Walk T‑shirt, breakfast and lunch. The day also includes a MADD CT program honoring Negri; with help from the National Guard’s Color Guard, Branford High School band and other organizations.
Learn more and register in advance at www.walklikemadd.org/branford or call 203 – 764-2566.
Joel Malbus at Branford Folk Music Society
Michigan’s Joel Mabus will perform at Branford Folk Music Society’s concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the First Congregational Church, 1009 Main St. He last played in Branford in 2005 with his impeccable musicianship, warm humor and storytelling and fine songwriting.
Malbus’s palette ranges from mountain banjo to jazz guitar – from sensitive introspection to wicked satire. His performing career began in college during the Vietnam Era, where he studied anthropology and literature by day and played coffeehouses by night. He has recorded 25 solo albums of original and traditional music since his recording career began in 1978. His latest effort, released early this summer, is “Different Hymnals”, a collection of tunes representing a wide variety of inspiration and traditions, different dogma and creeds. His previous release was 2015’s “A Bird In This World,” a guitar-driven album of original songs exploring the blues.
Admission is $20 non-members, $17 members, $5 children 12 and under.
Jazz Week New Haven
Giacomo Gates will kick off Jazz Week New Haven 2017 with an appearance at the Lyric Hall Theatre, 827 Whalley Ave., New Haven on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. (See top photo).
Appearing with Gates will be pianist John DiMartino, bassist Ed Howard, and drummer Vince Cherigo. They will be performing songs from the new CD, “What Time Is It?”
The Ed Cherry Trio will perform in honor of Dizzy Gillespie’s 100th birthday on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Café Nine, 250 State St., New Haven, from 10 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Tickets are $30. There will be one set only. Doors open at 7 p.m. Jazz Week New Haven is produced by Jazz Haven and runs from Saturday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 21.
For additional concerts scheduled, go to jazzhaven.org.
Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15
Book Launch Party and Artist Talk
Launch party for “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind,” a new book by Branford author/artist Jen Payne takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Martha Link Walsh Gallery, 188 North Main St. Payne asks the questions: Would God floss? Do spiders sing? Can you see the Universe in your reflection? Payne’s 2014 book “LOOK UP! Musings on the Nature of Mindfulness” will also be featured.
Payne will sign copies of her book. Refreshments will be served. The event is open to the public.
An Artist Talk/Sunday Salon with Jen Payne and Martha Link Walsh takes place from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, at Martha Link Walsh Gallery 188 North Main Street.
The free event will focus on the creative process and is presented in conjunction with the launch of “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind,” a collection of poetry and photographs by Payne. Open to the public; refreshments will be served.
Email Jen Payne [email protected] or call 203 – 483-5353 or visit 3chairspublishing.com.
Sunday, Oct. 1
Pumpkin Patch/Pet Adoption Day
The Shoreline Trolley Museum, River Street, East Haven, will host a special Pumpkin Patch/Pet Adoption Day in conjunction with the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick a pumpkin, have your face painted and maybe give a pet a forever home.
The Shore Line Trolley Museum will also be accepting donations for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter throughout October. Stop by between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The shelter is currently in need of HE laundry detergent and Clorox wipes, paper towels, baking soda, “pigs ears” and “bully sticks,” clay kitty litter and aspen rabbit bedding, canned or dry kitten food, sensitive stomach and hairball cat food, senior dry cat food, natural balance sweet potato and venison wet and dry dog food, kitten-sized litter boxes and Freedom no pull harnesses.
For more information on the Pumpkin Patch, visit www.shorelinetrolley.org or call 203 – 467-6927.
Oktoberfest
The Branford Lions Club will hold its annual Oktoberfest at the Stony Creek Brewery, 5 Indian Neck Ave., on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 3 to 6 p.m.
A full German-style dinner is included with the $40 admission ticket. Reminiscent of the Beer Festivals held over 40 years ago, the event is held right at the brewery, where many different beers can be sampled. Each beer is crafted by the artisans at SCB and served right where it was made. Tours of the brewery will be available.
For tickets, go to eventbrite.com/e/branford-lions-clubs-oktoberfest-tickets-37016255617.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 18
Celebrate the Reformation
Tabor Lutheran Church, 45 Tabor Drive, will celebrate 500 Years of the Reformation with a variety of activities, including a free showing of “Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World” at the Lutheran Church of Madison (9 Britton Lane) on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. All other activities will be held on the church property.
An Art & Talent Show takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20. Farmers Market & Vendor Fair with live music is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21, along with a Kid’s Fest, with petting zoo, hay rides, crafts, games, prizes, and a bounce house. A German Style Pork Roast Dinner follows, from 5 to 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $14. The 2nd Company Governor’s Foot Guard performing under the tent outdoors and Bobby Jo Valentine, a two-time West Coast Songwriter’s Association “Songwriter of the Year,” will perform at 7 p.m.
For more information, call 203 – 488-2541.
Thursday, Oct. 19
Black Cat Wine Tasting Fundraiser
Shoreline Networking Associates & Professionals (SNAP) will host the Black Cat Wine Tasting Fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at La Luna Ristorante, 168 N. Main St., to benefit the Branford Compassion Club.
Wine tasting provided by: ViaONEHOPE. There will be a cash bar for all other beverages and La Luna dinner specials will be available following the event.
Raffle tickets sold at the door $5 each; drawing 7:15 p.m. Must be present to win. RSVP by Oct. 14 to SNAP president, Dawn Carlson. Call or text 203 – 214-4493.
Friday, Oct. 20
Paint Jam Social
Art Plus Studio, 1207 Chapel St., New Haven, is launching a new creative event on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. titled “Paint Jam Social,” an arty party where music fuses with art.
Art Plus Studio hopes to promote creativity, community, and dance. The event will begin with a surprise drink reception upon arrival, introductory art exercises on paper, then move onto individual painting on canvas with standing easels. Later in the evening, collaborative painting on a communal canvas takes place. A DJ will be playing music all night long. Guests are encouraged to bring wine or beer to enjoy while they paint and dance.
The theme of the night is “Abstract Art,” so some abstract art techniques will be demonstrated, channeling famous artists like Pollock, Rothko, Kandinsky, and Mondrian. Paint Jam Social brings the artist experience to everyone in an uplifting, social space.
For more information, visit http://www.artplusstudio.com/ or call 203 – 500-7352.
Saturday, Oct. 21
A Walk Through Natural History
Join the Branford Land Trust and the First Congregational Church on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon for “A Walk Through Natural History” at Killam’s Point.
Jimmy Goggin will lead the walk where participants will the fall colors, the ospreys feeding for their long migration, the granite bluffs against the sparkling Sound, schools of bunker fleeing a bluefish frenzy, chipmunks and squirrels harvesting acorns, and through it all, the peace and order of an undisturbed ecological system.
Killam’s Point is an ecological treasure, habitat for many species of bird and animals, with healthy forested uplands, expansive salt marshes, inviting sandy beaches and spectacular granite bluffs. The Branford Land Trust and the First Congregational Church to collaborate to provide programs open to the public sharing the stunning beauty, serenity and fragility of the Point.
Killam’s Point is located along Shore Drive just west of the Orchard House Adult Day Care Center.
Sunday, Oct. 22
Men Who Cook
The 23rd annual Men Who Cook takes place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Guilford Yacht Club, 379 New Whitfield St., Guilford. Guests will dine on three small plate courses at this festive cocktail party, emceed by celebrity chef and past Chopped champion Ric Orlando, and featuring fun chef competitions between 30 prominent and talented volunteer chefs.
Live and silent auction items range from South African photo safaris and sailing trips to jewelry, theater tickets, gift baskets, and more. Proceeds will benefit Women & Family Life Center, which helps shoreline residents in crisis due to major life events. For tickets call 203 – 458-6699, email [email protected], or visit www.womenandfamilylife.org.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Autumn Jazz: American & Cuban Jazz
Cuban jazz pianist, Carlos Manuel Gomez, performs an hour of both American and Cuban jazz songs on piano from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Blackstone Library, 785 Main St.
A Cuban-born jazz pianist, Carlos Gomez was trained in classical piano at the National School of Art in Havana and the Carl Nielson International Conservatory in Moscow. Gomez’s passion turned to Jazz in his late teens, influenced by Irakere and the rapidly growing jazz movement in Cuba in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Much of his inspiration has come from Cuban pianists such as Chucho Valdez and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and also American pianist, Chick Corea. After graduating from the NSA, Gomez was a music professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota for over a decade. In Miami he managed a Jazz Trio for two years at the St. Regis Wine Bar in Bal Harbour and has played Jazz at numerous events at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami, including the popular Jazz @ MOCA series. Gomez has also played several concerts at Amadeus Piano in Stamford, where he is currently recording a CD with Amadeus Records.
Registration required. Call 203 – 488-1441, extension 318.
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Color Away Your Stress
The adult coloring phenomenon has provided an island of calm in a stressful world. Sally Bahner will host a workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St.
There are hundreds of books on the market, tailored to all interests and skill levels, designs simple and complicated, mandalas, animals, florals, landscapes and more. Artists such as Joanna Basford and Hanna Karlzon have gained huge followings. Some handouts and supplies will be available. Feel free to bring your own. Donation, $5.
To register or for more information, call Yvonne, 860 – 334-4642 or Sally, 203 – 488-3495
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