Jazz Brunch
Winter markets are big right now. There may not be corn, tomatoes, zucchini, but there are plenty other goodies. Plan a visit to the Dudley Farm Market and the City Seed Market. And, along with a selection of everything from basic to unique, the Elm City offers a Jazz Brunch on Sundays. Oh, and be sure to stay safe during today’s “bomb cyclone.” Got a cool event? Email [email protected] by Wednesday noon.
Friday, March 2
First Friday Game Night
F2G2 (First Friday Game Group) meets the first Friday of each month at the Blackstone Library to play a wide variety of tabletop board and card games. The next meeting is Friday, March 2, at 6 p.m. If participants have never played anything other than Monopoly or Scrabble, games are provided and taught.
With nearly 100 games in their collection, there’s something for everyone. Adults of all experience levels are welcome. This month is Mystery Game Night! Haunted houses, solving murders, hunting down Jack the Ripper, and communing with spirits will all be part of the evening.
For more information, call 203 – 488-1441.
Harp vs. Harp: Edmar Castaneda & Grégoire Maret
As part of the Ellington jazz series, Edmar Castaneda, harp, and Grégoire Maret, harmonica, perform at Morse Recital Hall (Sprague Hall), 470 College St., New Haven, on Friday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., in a concert showcasing the musical range and imagination of two remarkable artists.
Tickets from $20; students admitted free.
Saturday, March 3
Dudley Farm Winter Farmers’ Market
Support local farmers and artisans at the Dudley Farm Winter Farmers’ Market taking place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at the Dudley Farm, corner of Routes 77 and 80.
Special feature is Needle-Felting. Liz Rinaldo, of Flat Brook Farm, will demonstrate making felted soap, using soap made from her own goats’ milk. Carol Gilbert, of Double “G” Alpacas, will show how to needle-felt animals. The public is offered free lessons on how to make a felted pendant, first-come first-served. Other items include all-natural and organic meats, eggs, maple syrup, honey, salsa, kettle corn, beeswax candles, soap, natural body products, clothing, and quilted, knitted, felted and painted gifts.
For more information, visit dudleyfarm.com or call 203 – 457-0770.
Fiction Writing Workshop
Award-winning novelist, Susan Strecker, will host a three-session workshop on March 3, 10, and 17 from 10 a.m. to noon, at Blackstone Library. Topics covered will include eight tips and tricks for writing a novel, the essential elements of successful books and the importance of hooking the reader. Writers of all experience and ability levels are welcome.
Space is very limited. Registration required. Please note that you are registering for all 3 sessions. For more information, call 203 – 488-1441.
Sunday, March 4
Jazz Brunch
The Elm City Market, 777 Chapel St., New Haven, features a jazz brunch on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (See top photo.)
Enjoy established and emerging jazz artists performing everything from old-time Dixieland to modern funk in a cozy family-friendly setting, celebrating the city’s history as a prewar jazz hub.
Performances in March include Shoreline Jazz Quartet on March 4; David Chevan + Friends, March 11; Morris Trent + Friends, March 18; and Jeff Fuller + Friends, March 25.
The menu features favorites like avocado toast topped with baby greens and a farm-fresh egg; a sandwich of thick-cut bacon and eggs scrambled with melty muenster cheese; and a vegan berry-acai smoothie bowl topped with granola and in-season fruit, all paired with fresh-brewed coffee and herbal teas.
For more information, visit elmcitymarket.com.
Tuesday, March 6
Healthy Families in the Digital Age
Branford Families is presenting a series of programs for parents and kids, titled “Growing Healthy Families in the Digital Age.” The free programs take place at 6:30 p.m. at Walsh Intermediate School (unless otherwise noted). For reservations, email [email protected].
Tuesday: March 6
: “…And — What IF Things Do Go Wrong?” Risks & Digital Lives features a presentation and discussion on the risks and dangers when the rules are broken. From the perspective of a Youth Officer, the program covers the legal issues related to social media, new laws in effect, parent responsibilities, school issues, and other risks in the digital lives of children.
Tuesday, April 3
: “The Lay of the Land: Screen-time, Devices, and Schools” is a panel presentation by school staff, consisting of the WIS school counselor, social worker, the school district’s director of technology, and Dr. Mary Alice Curran, Professor of Social Media Citizenship. What are the rules, how does it work with 1:1 device ratio. What if scenarios during school hours.
May:
Growing up KIND in the Digital World. Digital can be real: Review of “good digital spaces” for independent time for all age groups. “Don’t Be Mean Behind the Screen” movement. Special surprise presentation.
June 16:
Family Fun – Summer Sites and Awesome Apps. Branford Families will have a booth during the Branford Festival with a few good apps running and options for family togetherness in a digital world.
Sunday, March 11
Pancake Breakfast
As part of her Senior Capstone Project, Olivia Sullivan will host a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, March 11, 8:30 to 10 a.m., at Eli’s on Branford Hill. Proceeds will support the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.
The cost is $8 per person. RSVP to Olivia at [email protected].
Saturday, March 17
Uncover Branford Planning Meeting
Uncover Branford activities continue on Saturday, March 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Blackstone Library. Get up, get out and uncover Branford. Neighbors come together to share their favorite Branford places and stories, then plan a group outing to a special spot. As participants go out into the community to explore and uncover new places, they will make new friends, have fun, and discover the hidden gems of Branford.
Their adventures are documented with photos and a short write up of their own personal favorites, which are turned into a community exhibit on display in the library.
For more information, call 203 – 488-1441.
Sunday, March 18
Branford Forum schedule
Due to renovations at the Blackstone, the Branford Forum’s spring talks will be at the Willoughby-Wallace Library, 146 Thimble Island Road in Branford, Sundays at 2 p.m.
On March 18, local artists Nancy Eisenfield and Jennifer Davies, will speak on “Creating and Understanding Visual Art.”
The April 22 presentation is being finalized.
On May 20, Yale Law School Professor Stephen Carter will discuss “Lucky Luciano and New York’s First Black Woman Prosecutor.”
The talks are free. For further information, email [email protected].
Wednesday, March 21 to Sunday, March 25
Shrek, the Musical at BHS
Tickets are on sale for Branford High School Performing Arts presentation of “Shrek, the Musical, which takes place Wednesday, March 21, to Sunday, March 25, at the Cathyann Roding Auditorium.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Shrek will be played by Logan Distasio, and Fiona by Maddie Oberempt.
Tickets are $18; $15 for students and seniors. For reservations and information, call 203 – 315-7972.
Wednesday, March 28
The Most Famous Private in George Washington’s Continental Army
Tim Chaucer will portray Joseph Plumb Martin as a 70-year old man recalling his days as a much younger man during the Revolutionary War. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at the Branford High School Auditorium.
Martin was one of very few soldiers who stayed with Washington almost the entire length of the war. He wrote his memoirs at age 70 when he came to realize that Americans did not know about the intense suffering of the average continental soldier during the years 1776 – 1783. He will tell in great detail what happened to soldiers like him during those many trying years and why he did not rejoice when the war was over.
Tim Chaucer is a former American history teacher who became interested in Martin because Joseph grew up in Milford, living with his grandparents, the Plumbs. Tim is an active preservationist with the Milford Preservation Trust and a member of the 6th Connecticut Regiment.
The event is sponsored by the Branford Historical Society. For more information, call 203 – 488-4828.
Yale Collection of Musical Instruments
Here’s something different to explore. Atlas Obscura, the wonderful website that features quirky historical information of all kinds, recently featured the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. Established in 1900, after the university was gifted a collection of historic keyboards by Morris Steinert, the offbeat collection features an assemblage of Western and non-Western instruments. Its stock has since expanded and now contains instruments spanning many different time periods and cultures.
The museum is built around a celebrated core collection of organs, clavichords, harpsichords, spinets, virginals, and pianos from the past three centuries. There are also gorgeous string instruments with looks that rival the beauty of their sounds, a piano small enough to play with your thumbs, colorful bells, and even instruments that date back more than 2,000 years.
The collection is housed in a Romanesque structure at 15 Hillhouse Ave., built in 1895 for a fraternity. The collection moved into the space in 1961. The facilities host the occasional concert, which you can attend — if you’re quick enough to snag a ticket. The Smithsonian Chamber Players will perform on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m.
The collection is not open to the public on Saturday, only in the afternoon and never on university holidays or during August.
For more information, visit http://collection.yale.edu/.
Through March 31
Cityseed Winter Market
If you’ve been missing the hustle and bustle of summer’s farmers’ markets head into New Haven for Cityseed’s Winter Farmers Market, located at the Metropolitan Business Academy School, 115 Water St., open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Offerings include winter root veggies such as potatoes, onions, and carrots; jams, jellies, and pickles; fresh herbs, micro mixes, goat cheeses, meats, seafood, dairy products, bacon, eggs, artisan baked goods, and more. Special guests on hand throughout the season, as well as the Caseus Food Trick.
For more information, go to facebook.com/cityseed. Park in the Community and Ikea lots.
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