Fascinations with furniture and cars and theater under the stars usher in a festival-loaded Labor Day Weekend.
Tuesday, August 30
Elm Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest doth tempt us for just one more week, starting at 7:30 each of the next six nights in Edgerton Park (weather permitting). “A powerful—and much wronged—magician must find forgiveness for the sake of his daughter and the future… but the taste of power is sweet and revenge is at hand. Will love prevail?”
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Thursday, September 1
At 6:30 p.m., architect/editor/curator Deyan Sudjic comes to the Yale School of Architecture—Hastings Hall specifically—to discuss “Dancing with Power: The Architect’s Dilemma,” which I wager is a distillation of material covered in his recent book, Stalin’s Architect: Power and Survival in Moscow. Examining the life of Boris Iofan, “whose buildings came to define the language of Soviet architecture,” the book asks, “What would an architect do for the chance to build the tallest building in the world? What would he sacrifice to stay alive in the midst of Stalin’s murderous purges?”
Friday, September 2
St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church’s annual four-day Odyssey festival returns in full force for the first time since the pandemic. “Featuring authentic Greek food (meze, gyros, dinners, snack bar, Greek pastries frappe and much more), live Greek music and dancing (including Greek dance performances), Greek marketplace (grocery, jewelry, clothing, arts and crafts), kids area with rides and games, giant raffle, and more,” festivities run from noon to 10 for the first three days and noon to 6 on Monday.
Four centuries of immaculately preserved American furniture are the subject of a 12:30 p.m. in-person tour of the Hume American Furniture Study Center, located at Yale’s West Campus in Orange. “Registration required; to register, email yuag.furniturestudy@yale.edu. Space is limited.”
Two 8 p.m. bills compete for earballs. At Space Ballroom, the headliner is THICK, a fun, uptempo punk trio with some edge but also a sense of humor. At The State House, the headliners are The Tines, a local act serving up lush yet understated indie rock, and it’s a special occasion: the release party for their first full-length record, The Tines.
Saturday, September 3
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in West Haven’s Old Grove Park, this year’s WestFest promises “live entertainment, food, games, and more” along the beach, which is also the site of a “fireworks spectacular” launching at 8:30.
From 2 to 10, Two Roads Brewing in Stratford and Emo Night CT join forces at the brewery for “the first ever” Lonely Roads Fest, “a curious combination of music, vendors & oddities” promising “some of the raddest & weirdest” wares around.
Sunday, September 4
Armada Brewing is hosting a car show outside its new River Street HQ. Along with the cars, “food, beer, music, and more” are on the menu.
Written by Dan Mims. Image 1, of L. Peter Callender as Prospero in The Tempest, photographed by Stacey Strange. Image 2 features traditional dancers during a past Odyssey festival. Images 3 and 4, featuring glimpses of the Hume American Furniture Study Center, photographed by Dan Mims. Image 5 features THICK. Image 6, featuring S.G. Carlson of The Tines, photographed by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
