It’s Thanksgiving Week—traditionally a time when major institutions and colleges shut down for several days while everyone heads home for festive family gatherings. This being New Haven, however, there is still always something to do, even during vacations and quiet spells. Hit a club or a gallery, catch some comedy acts and learn how to use your iPad. The week even ends with a glimpse of the next holiday coming up, with a screening of short silent Christmas-themed films at Lyric Hall. Give thanks for a vibrant, community-conscious and joyous New Haven.
Monday, November 19
Watercolor paintings by Mickey Kavanagh grace the walls of Atticus Bookstore Café (1082 Chapel St., New Haven; 203-776-4040) from today through the end of December. The café—home of delectable Chabaso brand bread loaves—is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kavanagh’s a member of the Connecticut Watercolor Society, and this is not the first time she’s displayed her work in an eatery; in addition to a previous run earlier this fall at Atticus, she had an exhibition last year at Chestnut Fine Foods on State Street.
Another local art exhibition opening today is “Six Lights” by Chava Light, at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven (360 Amity Rd., Woodbridge). Light’s work highlights Jewish culture and traditions historically and in the present day. The JCC is open Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (203) 387-2424.
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Tuesday, November 20
New Haven’s still spanking-new Apple Store at 65 Broadway holds classes and clinics nearly every day. Today’s is a handy seminar on “Going Further with iPad,” which acquaints you with the iPad versions of iWork, iPhoto, GarageBand and other essential apps, and helps you figure out how best to connect to iCloud and AirPlay. 8:30 a.m. (203) 498-8950.
Wednesday, November 21
Few Connecticut funk bands have resonated more strongly than Deep Banana Blackout. Give thanks that the band tops the bill at an energetic Funksgiving event tonight at Toad’s Place. Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds fill out the (turkey) bill. Doors open at 8 p.m. $20, $18.50 in advance. 300 York St., New Haven; (203) 624-TOAD.
Thursday, November 22
For years, much-loved local guitarist Dean Falcone has given a great gift to those whose Thanksgiving family homecoming dinners have given them cause to flee to the nearest bar. For his annual Thanksgiving Vomitorium at Café Nine (250 State Street, New Haven; 203-789-8281), Falcone brings in musician pals from New Haven, Boston, New York and beyond to indulge in loose, lively, one-of-a-kind renditions of rock tunes both classic and obscure. 8 p.m. $5.
Friday, November 23
Stand-up comic Brian McKim, a semifinalist on the seventh season of TV’s Last Comic Standing, and Traci Skene, another Last Comic Standing veteran and cofounder with McKim of the comedy site sheckymagazine.com, begin a two-night stand tonight at the Joker’s Wild comedy club (232 Wooster Street, New Haven; 203-773-0733). Shows are Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m., with an added Saturday late set at 10:30 p.m. $18.
Saturday, November 24
Cap off your Thanksgiving clubgoing weekend with NRBQ at Toad’s Place (300 York St., New Haven; 203-624-TOAD). The legendary bar band has changed line-ups over the years, but is still anchored by encyclopedic pop music/pop culture fanatic Terry Adams. Remember September opens the 8:30 p.m. show. $20, $15 in advance.
Sunday, November 25
Lyric Hall continues to offer timely holiday film screenings… of a century or so ago, when movies were silent and were accompanied by live music. Fresh off the scares of their Halloween screening of The Cat and the Canary, the Lyric Hall Theater Orchestra heads into Christmastime with “Silent Films of Christmas Past.” Selections include “A Visit from Santa,” and early film adaptations of A Christmas Carol and The Night Before Christmas. Besides today’s family-friendly 2 p.m. matinee, there are two screenings Saturday night, November 24, at 7 & 9 p.m. 827 Whalley Avenue, New Haven. (203) 209-5369.
