T he weather’s turning cooler, and so is New Haven. A much-respected under-the-radar band comes to Cafe Nine on Tuesday, the day before the Whitney Humanities Center presents an advance screening of the latest film from one of Hollywood’s most well-known and respected young actors. The weekend, meanwhile, offers up one of the Elm City’s best street festivals and a party that’ll put some art on your walls.
Stay cool this week in New Haven.
Monday, September 16
TV-writer-turned-novelist D.J. MacHale—who wrote for nostalgic Generation Y shows Ghostwriter and Are You Afraid of the Dark?—visits Madison bookshop R.J. Julia (768 Boston Post Rd, Madison; 203-245-3959) today to promote his recently released conspiracy thriller Sylo. The free event starts at 4 p.m., which is great news for those who are still afraid of the dark. Free; reserve your seat here.
Tuesday, September 17
Most bands never gain much in the way of fame or reward. A few receive huge amounts of the stuff. The 1997-formed Califone resides somewhere in-between. The group earns album reviews in Pitchfork and The New York Times, but its low-key, “experimental” folk-rock sound is hard to pinpoint—something like Modest Mouse, only much more modest—and maybe that’s why it never seems to get the big headlines. On tour, though, Califone often gets to headline, and that’s how it is tonight at Cafe Nine. Richard Buckner performs second on the bill, and New Haven-based The Backyard Committee opens. 8 p.m. $15, $12 in advance.
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Wednesday, September 18
From Inception to The Dark Knight Rises to Looper to Lincoln, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has acted in an inordinate number of the biggest (and many of the most innovative) studio films of the past few years. Tonight his latest film, Don Jon—for which he wrote, directed and starred—is screening at Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St, New Haven; 203-432-0670) before it’s released to the public. 7 p.m. Free.
Thursday, September 19
Following the big Greek festival that happened a few weeks ago in Orange, you’ve got another chance this week to get your street gyro and moussaka fix. St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church (1 Tower La, New Haven; 203-777-8294) hosts its yearly Greek Cultural Fair with food, crafts, books and more for sale, and with a silent auction as well. The fair, which takes place on church grounds, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Friday, September 20
If the names Édouard Manet and Paul Cézanne mean anything to you, and even if they don’t, you’ll want to run over to the Yale School of Art’s “Lunch with Olympia” opening reception today from 4 to 7 p.m. at 32 Edgewood Gallery (at 32 Edgewood Ave, naturally). The free exhibition celebrates the 150th anniversary of Manet’s Olympia and features works inspired by the enormously influential French painter, including an etching by the man himself and even photography (like the example pictured above). Multiple Cézanne works are exhibited as well, and Marcel Duchamp’s lesser-known brother, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, who was a very successful sculptor in his own right, makes an appearance among the roughly 30 pieces on display. The gallery opening precedes Yale’s “The Olympiad” conference happening Saturday and Sunday.
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Saturday, September 21
New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood takes center stage today at the annual East Rock Festival. Thousands of smiling people are expected to traverse the stretch of Orange Street between Willow and Cottage during the course of the free event, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entertainment includes live music and other performances on two stages, plus lots of vendors to browse and food to eat.
Sunday, September 22
Today at 3 p.m., Hopkins School and Music Haven get together for “Diversity of Sound,” a concert featuring the Haven String Quartet and a number of student players from each school. The show, which includes “classical, electronic and African call-and-response” music, takes place in Hopkins’s Heath Commons (986 Forest Road, New Haven).
The Arts Council of Greater New Haven puts on this evening’s “Somewhat Off the Wall” party in the lobby of the 360 State Street building, capping off a weeks-long exhibition of approximately 150 pieces of art provided by 50 artists. Works range from jewelry to paintings to glasswork. Premium ticket holders pay $100 to take home one of the pieces of art, which they’ll choose when their number is drawn. It’s an anticipation-filled and relatively affordable way to start or nurture a burgeoning home art collection. For others who just want to party, general admission tickets are available for $35.
Written by Dan Mims. Image courtesy of the Yale School of Art.
