This Week in New Haven (June 14 – 20)

A nonprofit celebrates, a festival starts to peak and a performance space roars back to life.

Tuesday, June 15
At 11:15am right in the middle of Pride Month, the New Haven Pride Center presents a free virtual Drag Artist Story Hour starring Xiomarie LaBeija, who’s set to read two books—selections TBA—in both English and Spanish.

sponsored by

Yale Center for British Art

Thursday, June 17
Jewish Family Service’s virtual Spring Celebration, a reflection upon and fundraiser for the organization’s pantry, counseling, adoption and many other services, starts at 7pm. Emceed live by Richard Epstein, the occasion also honors Rabbi Herbert Brockman, the retired longtime leader of Mishkan Israel in Hamden, and promises music from local acts The Afro-Semitic Experience and Jeff Fuller & Friends with Atla and Matt DeChamplain. $36.

Friday, June 18
As the International Festival of Arts & Ideas shifts into high gear, most of the in-person tickets to the weekend’s tentpole events on the Green, whose crowds are capped to maintain social distancing, have been gobbled up. Still, as of this writing, tickets remain for Sunday’s 3 p.m. gospel brunch starring Kevin Monroe & Devotion (pictured above) and 8:30 dance performance by Ronald K. Brown and his dance company, Evidence. By the way, you can stream any of the mainstage events live online (or find a decent, unofficial spot to listen or watch from), and there’s no cap on attendance for virtual-only events such as today’s 1pm Juneteenth opening ceremony and 3pm world-building workshop.

The first post-pandemic show at Space Ballroom (295 Treadwell St, Hamden; 203-573-1600) is locally significant for other reasons as well. On an 8pm bill, the headliner is hometown hero and “seasoned indie rap and folk-punk veteran” Ceschi, who’s joined by excellent and equally local “experimental soul ensemble” Phat A$tronaut and Bridgeport-born, New Haven-schooled rapper-poet Siul Hughes. Tickets cost $15 before taxes and fees, which are reduced if you buy in-person from the satellite box office at Redscroll Records in Wallingford.

Saturday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Famed soul food restaurant Sandra’s Next Generation (636 Congress Ave, New Haven; 203-787-4123) is hosting a noon-to-midnight “For the Culture” Juneteenth festival offering “non-stop music,” “food and drinks galore” and “good vibes.”

Up the coast, from 7 to 10 p.m., Bishop’s Orchard (1355 Boston Post Rd, Guilford; 203-453-2338) hosts an outdoor tent party featuring the Muddy Rudders, a ’60s and ’70s cover band promising “rock ’n’ roll like you remember it.” Organizers, meanwhile, promise that “Thimble Island craft beer, Bishop’s hard cider and wines will be available, with a food truck on the premises!”

Written by Dan Mims. Image, featuring Kevin Monroe & Devotion, who will perform during an IFAI gospel brunch on the Green this Sunday, provided courtesy of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.

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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.

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