Distantly related concepts—nation-building and narrative-building; timed lectures and comedic timing; water damage and water dancing—become better acquainted this week in New Haven.
Monday, April 9
At 4:30 p.m. in Yale’s Luce Hall (34 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven), 45-year-old British parliamentarian Rory Stewart, whose long and peculiar CV includes tutoring Princes William and Harry, walking from Iran to Nepal, writing acclaimed bestselling books, administering elements of the provisional post-war government of Iraq and gaining meteoric promotions since his 2010 election to Parliament, is discussing “Failed States—and How Not to Fix Them,” a subject for which his time in Iraq must be especially instructive. Free.
sponsored by
Tuesday, April 10
The next PechaKucha, wherein locals deliver unconventional presentations in a “20×20” format—20 slides shown for 20 seconds apiece—is happening at Lotta Studio (911 Whalley Ave, New Haven; 475-355-7654). Doors open at 6 p.m., while 20x20s get going at 7. Free.
Fresh off a nearly three-month closure caused by busted water pipes, a reopened Ordinary (990 Chapel St, New Haven; 203-907-0238) is hosting a cocktail contest. Starting at 6:30 p.m., “
Wednesday, April 11
From 6 to 7 p.m. at Ives Main Library (133 Elm St, New Haven; 203-946-8130), Yale writer-in-residence and adjunct professor Anne Fadiman, who’s won major awards as a journalist, essayist, book author and educator, leads her 12th annual “evening of creative nonfiction.” Three of her current students are reading works about “a bong-maker,” “a shooting instructor” and “a luthier,” respectively, while Fadiman is reading a piece about “her problematically sensitive palate.” Free.
Over at Cafe Nine (250 State St, New Haven; 203-789-8281), the evening’s topics are unknowable in advance. That’s because the occasion is the club’s next open mic comedy show, where most anyone can take the stage as long as they turn up early enough to claim a spot. Hosted by local funnyman Dan Rice, signups begin an hour before the 9 p.m. show.
Thursday, April 12
Starting at 7 p.m. in room 351 of Yale’s Loria Center (190 York St, New Haven), award-winning documentarian Gaspar González is presenting a free screening of his film A Long Way from Home: The Untold Story of Baseball’s Desegregation (2017)—in which early non-white pro ballplayers recall being refused basic services, having to stay in different parts of town and being harassed by the Ku Klux Klan—with a talkback to follow.
Friday, April 13
Jazz fans rejoice. The three-day, four-event, free-and-public Sixth Annual Jazz Festival at Yale commences with an 8 p.m. performance by the Nicholas Payton Trio in William L. Harkness Hall’s Sudler Recital Hall (100 Wall St, New Haven). Meanwhile, this year’s spring jazz series at Firehouse 12 (45 Crown St, New Haven; 203-785-0468) proceeds with 8:30 ($20) and 10 p.m. ($15) sets by the Joseph Daley Tuba Trio, which, to be clear, features just one tuba player.
Saturday, April 14
Lasting from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featuring live performances, speakers, information sessions and a 5K route starting at the New Haven Green, it’s the 2018 AIDS Walk New Haven. Raising funds “to benefit local HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness and treatment groups”—and raising awareness to “stomp out the stigma”—regular registration, which includes a T-shirt, costs $25 for adults and $20 for kids.
At 4 p.m., members of the Elm City Dance Collective are collecting at the lighthouse in Lighthouse Point Park (2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven) to perform as part of the 2018 National Water Dance, when dancers across the country simultaneously “bring attention to the fragility of our waters.” Free.
Sunday, April 15
Last year’s worldwide March for Science, joined by hundreds of cities including New Haven, has evolved into this year’s Beyond the March for Science, which, at least in New Haven, is more like a public-facing conference complete with an indoor venue: the new, aspirational flex office space complex District (470 James St, New Haven). Starting at 1 p.m., organizers promise TED-style talks focused “on the science behind Connecticut’s greatest challenges” and chances to speak directly with scientific experts, among other features.
Back at Cafe Nine (250 State St, New Haven; 203-789-8281), “tough and tender” (and talented) journeywoman Sarah Borges and her rootsy rock band the Broken Singles headline a nice-and-early 4 p.m. bill. The opener is local Americana act Stefanie Austin and the Palomino Club, with tickets costing $15 at the door or $12 in advance.
Written by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
