From the city’s defining rock formation to cutting-edge modern sculpture. From the historic Lovell Elementary School to modern dance at Yale. From a psycho-‘60s cinematic hoot to modern psychedelic jams. This week in New Haven is one for the ages.
Monday, April 23
A couple of visiting artists lecture on sculpture today at Yale: Simone Menegoi at 1:30 p.m. and Richard Prince at 6:30 p.m. Menegoi is an Italian critic and art theorist. Prince, from Central America works in fiberglass—specifically the front hoods and other parts of old cars; he’s also known as a painter and photographer who “rephotographs” and recontextualizes existing objects to examine aspects of contemporary culture. Both talks happen in Room 204 of 36 Edgewood Ave., New Haven; Prince’s is the final installment in the Yale School of Art’s Monday Night Lecture Series. (203) 432-2600.
Tuesday, April 24
It’s open mic night at the friendly, well-situated downtown bar Stella Blues. Sign up at 8 p.m. and wait your turn to strut your stuff in that appealing front-window stage area. 204 Crown St., New Haven. (203) 752-9764.
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Wednesday, April 25
Classes are over, but the semester-long Shakespeare at Yale project is still frolicking. This afternoon, explore “Shakespeare Dances,” new terpsichorean interpretations of the bard devised by undergraduate composers and dancers and graduate-program projection designers. 12:45 p.m. at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School at 117 College St., New Haven. (203) 432-1308. Free.
Thursday, April 26
Rat Pfink a Boo Boo is a cult among cults. The 1966 B-movie (actually more of a Z-movie) exploits numerous crazes at once—superhero parodies, psycho crime thrillers, rockabilly/surf music (with the original songs “You is a Rat Pfink” and “Go Go Party”) and chain gang flicks a la Cool Hand Luke. Oh, there’s also an escaped gorilla. Café Nine uses the cut-rate, convoluted cheapo-pop classic to launch the club’s new “Moe Moe Movie Night.” 10 p.m. 250 State St., New Haven. (203) 789-8281. No cover charge.
Friday, April 27
The New Haven Preservation Trust offers a select few local-history fans—in hard hats—a chance to tour the site of the former Lovell Elementary School, a late-19th century edifice on Nash Street in New Haven which architect Bob Frew and real estate agent Susan Frew are renovating into an apartment building. “A limited number of hard hats will be available,” the NHPT counsels. “Please let us know if you are willing to provide your own.” Registration required; tour open to NHPT members only; contact info@nhpt.org.
Saturday, April 28
The New Haven Museum is off on a combination lecture and bus trip with Dr. Jelle DeBoer, the Earth Scientist whose studies of the geology of East Rock and West Rock led to the museum’s exhibit “New Haven’s Sentinels”. DeBoer gives a free lecture on Thursday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the museum (114 Whitney Ave., New Haven), then leads a three-hour bus tour to the summits of those rocks today from 1-4 p.m., for which tickets ($35, or $25 for museum members) must be bought in advance. (203) 562-4183, education@newhavenmuseum.org.
Sunday, April 29
There’s a surfeit of freak-rock swagger at The Space this evening with the acclaimed Japanese collective Acid Mothers Temple (who’ve been memorably messing with the heads of New Haven clubgoers regularly for over a decade), the multi-styled Kentucky five-piece Phantom Halo Family and the Bridgeport-based Sun Dagger. Stir the jams! 7 p.m. at the Space (295 Treadwell St., Hamden; 203-288-6400). $14 or $12 in advance.
Written by Christopher Arnott.
