A big Monday tides us over ’til a big Thursday and a weekend of fun and profound moments.
Monday, March 18
Bar 19 above the Omni Hotel is mixing things up with a spectator-friendly bartending competition at 5 p.m. “Bartenders will showcase their skills, craft innovative cocktails, and vie for the title! Don’t miss this exciting showdown of mixology mastery!”
Also at 5, a weekly J’s Juke Joint live music series enjoys what appears to be its very first show at Jazzy’s Cabaret.
Just over the Woodbridge border, a 6:30 Harry Potter trivia night casts a spell over New England Brewing Company.
Thursday, March 21
From 6 to 8 p.m., an opening reception at Institute Library fêtes the exhibition LOOK BOOK, “a visual celebration of Women’s History Month exploring how we express ourselves through fashion and adornment.” Attendees, naturally, should “dress to impress.”
Also at 6, Hamden gets a jump on Easter with an Eggstravaganza offering “snacks, crafts, music” and, of course, “pictures with the Easter Bunny” at the Hamden Board of Education Building.
At 7, MakeHaven hosts an open-invitation beer brewing demo focused on the lager style. “Whether you’re a seasoned brewer or a complete newbie, everyone is welcome to drop in, participate in the brewing process, and share the joy of crafting beer.” Also: “Bring a couple of your own favorite beers to share, and we’ll do the same! It’s a beer exchange where we celebrate the diverse flavors of local breweries and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow beer enthusiasts.”
Branford’s Legacy Theatre takes on a more serious subject during a 7 p.m. screening of Eva’s Promise (2022), with a talkback to follow. “On a train to Auschwitz, 15-year-old Eva made a promise to her older brother Heinz. If he did not survive the camps, Eva promised to retrieve the paintings and poetry Heinz hid under the floorboards of his attic hiding place. Heinz Geiringer’s story sits in the shadow of the better-known The Diary of a Young Girl [the actual title of the publication better known as The Diary of Anne Frank]. After the war, Eva became the posthumous stepsister of Anne Frank when her mother married Anne’s father. While the world knows Anne’s story, this film introduces Heinz, his artistry, and his sister’s efforts to find and share his remarkable legacy.”
Friday, March 22
Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut’s 13th Annual Dancing Under the Stars fundraiser starts at 6 p.m. at Anthony’s Ocean View. “The event features a seated dinner and a cast of local celebrities who are paired with professional ballroom dancers from the Greater New Haven area in a competition unlike any other.”
From 8 to late, Partners Cafe celebrates an incredible milestone: 50 years of business. “Hosted by two of Partners Cafe’s longest-running hosts and performers, Kiki Lucia and Tiana Maxim,” the party promises “performances, dancing [and] community” as well as “drink specials, special surprises and giveaways all night long!”
Two sons of Bob Marley, Damian and Stephen, come to College Street Music Hall for an 8 o’clock show. Damian “blend[s] reggae with dancehall, hip hop, R&B and rock” and “made history as the first reggae artist to win a Grammy outside the genre.” Stephen, for his part, is an eight-time Grammy winner as a singer, songwriter and producer.
If you prefer to be on stage, The Beeracks in East Haven hosts its next session of Emo Night Karaoke. Signups to sing your preferred emo hit with backing from a live band start at 8.
Saturday, March 23
From noon to 4, a “What’s in the Whitney Library?” program at the New Haven Museum focuses on maps. “Get an up-close view of the most captivating maps at the Whitney Library collection, including a vibrant 1928 Carina Eaglesfield Mortimer pictorial map, Donald Grant Mitchell watercolor maps, and more. This is a fun and enlightening way to view the growth of the Elm City from its founding in 1638 to today!”
At the Unitarian Society of New Haven (which is actually in Hamden), the Haven String Quartet leads “a musical journey across the globe” via “a rich tapestry of folk music from diverse cultures worldwide.”
Sunday, March 24
At the Ely Center of Contemporary Art, a 12:30 p.m. artist talk features currently exhibiting Guyanese-American artists Stanwyck Cromwell and Marlon Forrester.
At 3:30 at Neighborhood Music School, harpist Kirsten Agresta Copely—the principal harpist for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, whose credits include performances with Beyonce, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga and Florence & The Machine and recordings with Kacey Musgraves and Kristin Chenoweth—performs music from two of her albums, one of which was nominated for a Grammy.
Presented by the Yale Slavic Chorus, the women’s vocal ensemble Kitka, a hallowed 45-year-old choral project formed around “passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Eastern European women’s vocal music,” comes to Yale’s Battell Chapel for a 7 p.m. concert.
Written by Dan Mims. Image features Kitka. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
