This Week in New Haven (April 14 – 20)

A chef shows and tells about his new book; musicians show off their divergent takes on country and folk music; an accomplished visual artist shows us her latest; a world-premiere drama puts on a show; and enthralling performers show us nearly everything.

It’s showtime this week in New Haven.

Monday, April 14
In addition to running a couple of small research farms in New Haven and Orange, the Yale Sustainable Food Project also coordinates events that bridge nutritional, environmental and domestic concerns. All three are in play today at a 4 p.m. public talk by “vegan chef, cookbook author and food justice activist” Bryant Terry, held in the university’s Calhoun residential college (189 Elm St, New Haven). Terry will be discussing his new book Afro-Vegan: Farm Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Food Remixed. Free.

Tuesday, April 15
If you haven’t yet submitted your 2013 taxes, today’s the day to finish up or file an extension. Do one of those before 9 p.m. so you can get to Cafe Nine (250 State St, New Haven; 203-789-8281) for tonight’s show, headlined by Amy LaVere (with Will Sexton on guitar) and opened by Ponybird. The country-inspired LaVere is unusual and appealing: her voice is thin like it’s sweet, but rich like it’s sultry—and she plays the upright bass, which she likes to slap for percussive effect. Ponybird, a.k.a. Jennifer Dauphinais, is a native daughter who lilts and slides through atmospheric, acoustic guitar-driven songs. Occupying an amorphous space somewhere between indie folk and alt-country, “freak folk,” one of Dauphinais’s chosen descriptors, might describe her style best. $10, $8 in advance.

sponsored by

The Last Five Years at Long Wharf Theatre
Wednesday, April 16
These are the final days to check out locally based, internationally exhibited photographer and mixed-media maven Linda Lindroth’s Recent Disturbances at the downtown location of Giampietro Gallery (91 Orange St, New Haven; 203-777-7707). The art on display incorporates “vintage packaging and ephemera,” which the artist has played with, then digitized, then printed for our viewing pleasure. The resulting images are crisp yet play with perception: situated against white backgrounds with pronounced texture and shadowing, Lindroth has built thoroughly 3D objects into 2D surfaces (exemplified in After Man Ray, pictured above). Disturbances is viewable from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday, April 19.

Thursday, April 17
Husband and wife John and Faith Hubley each had impressive arts and entertainment careers, along the way making 21 innovative animated films (and winning three Oscars between 1960 and 1967) together. Eight of John’s films—shorts ranging from five to 19 minutes long, clocking a total of 80 minutes, and all but one a collaboration with Faith—are being shown back-to-back this evening at the Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St, New Haven; 203-432-0670). The official cause for the 7 p.m. screening, which is one of a traveling series put on by Artists Public Domain, a film preservation organization, is the centennial of John’s birth in 1914; perhaps the unofficial cause is the fact that Faith taught at Yale for nearly a quarter-century starting in the late 1970s. Free.

Friday, April 18
Young improvisational comedy troupe Tiny Dictator gives its debut performance in New Haven tonight at Artspace (50 Orange St, New Haven), sharing the bill with Sea Tea Improv from Hartford. Artspace is also Tiny Dictator’s practice space, and the group’s decided to donate tonight’s proceeds to the gallery in a show of thanks. Tickets are $10 at the door; doors open at 6:30 p.m. in advance of the 7 p.m. start time.

sponsored by

New Haven Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, April 19
An east coast/west coast co-production between Yale Repertory Theatre and Berkley Repertory Theatre came to fruition January 31st, when Marcus Gardley’s new play The House that will not Stand opened at the latter’s stage in Berkley, California. Now it’s New Haven’s turn. The play—centered around a “free woman of color” whose white lover has suffered a “mysterious death” in 1830s New Orleans—began its subsequent sister run at Yale Rep (1120 Chapel St, New Haven; 203-432-1234) yesterday at 8 p.m., and because it’s a co-venture, with the same director (Patricia McGregor) and cast as the west coast run, it’s still considered the world premiere production. Tickets for the show, which closes on Saturday, May 10, range from $42 to $78 depending on the date, with discounts available for Yale employees and students.

Sunday, April 20
New 1920s-inspired bar and restaurant The 9th Note (56 Orange St, New Haven; 203-691-9918) promises “Sunday Sizzle” during its weekly burlesque shows. Tonight that sizzle comes courtesy of five dancers, led by “The Elm City’s Nudie Cutie” Kitty Katastrophe and host Keith Paul, who’ll get started at about 9 p.m. There’s no cover, but you can still reserve a table or general admission spot. By the way, if you opt for a table, there’s a two-drink minimum per person.

Written by Dan Mims. Image depicts Linda Lindroth’s After Man Ray (2013). Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Dan has worked for a couple of major media companies, but he likes Daily Nutmeg best. As DN’s editor, he writes, photographs, edits and otherwise shepherds ideas into fully realized feature stories.

Leave a Reply