F riendships will be forged and rivalries will be born over pie, Spades, basketball and—why not?—cornhole.
Monday, July 29
The 2019 Beecher Park Summer Concert Series + Hi Fi Pie Contest continue at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Mitchell Library (37 Harrison St, New Haven; 203-946-8117). The concert features S.G. Carlson, while this week’s category for the pie contest, which you can enter or judge, is “freestyle.”
Tuesday, July 30
Beer hall trivia is thrice as nice today. Sessions at Thimble Island Brewing (16 Business Park Dr, Branford; 203-208-2827) and Stony Creek Brewery (5 Indian Neck Ave, Branford; 203-433-4545) start at 7 p.m., while a session at Cask Republic (179 Crown St, New Haven; 475-238-8335) starts an hour later.
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Wednesday, July 31
Best known for over-the-top spectacle in their live shows, veteran indie rockers The Flaming Lips top an 8 p.m. bill at College Street Music Hall (238 College St, New Haven; 877-987-6487). The opener is Particle Kid, “an experimental future-folk project” led by Micah Nelson, youngest son of Willie Nelson. $45.
Thursday, August 1
From 7 to 10 p.m., Elks Lodge 141 (87 Webster St, New Haven; 203-865-5823), an outpost of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, hosts Spades Night, when you can play one of the most underrated card games of all time in a “fun and relaxing atmosphere,” with $5 mixed drink and $3 shot specials.
Friday, August 2
The Yale University Guild of Carillonneurs is entering the home stretch of its Summer Concert Series, “where we invite carillonneurs from all over the world to come play the bells at Harkness Tower.” Starting at 7 p.m., you can hear the bells—tonight being rung by John Widmann, who’s visiting from Frederick, Maryland, where he holds the post of “city carillonneur”—from blocks away, but the proper place to do it is the courtyard in Branford College (enter at 74 High St, New Haven). Bring chairs and a picnic, if you like. Free.
Saturday, August 3
Starting at 8:30 a.m. and finishing tomorrow at 4 p.m., CB3B—Connecticut Big 3 Ballout—is a “3 on 3 basketball tournament that takes place directly on Church Street in between New Haven City Hall and the beautiful New Haven Green.” Registration for players between 7 and 18 years old is free, while players over 18 must pay $50 apiece. For spectators, who can watch for free, organizers promise food trucks and other vendors to go with the action on the courts. Advance and walk-up registration available.
Sunday, August 4
Just as the pies that began the week were more savory than sweet, so too is the annual summer festival that ends it. Running from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, the 18th North Branford Potato & Corn Festival, held at Augur Field along Route 22 in the Northford section of the town, boasts carnival rides, live music, a cornhole tourney, a car and bike show, food and craft vendors and a beer and wine garden. Free to attend, with “limited” $10 on-site parking and free off-site, shuttle-serviced parking.
Written and photographed by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
