Red, white and blue, plus paint, dogs and Hawaiian prints, help color this week in New Haven.
Monday, July 3
It’s hard to imagine something more American-sounding than today’s Independence Day Blues Blast BBQ at Cafe Nine (250 State St, New Haven; 203-789-8281). Featuring the George Baker Band, whose leader has been serving locals “his unique gumbo of R&B and jazz” for more than three decades, and the Saint James Jazz Trio, whose “saloon singer jazz standards” spotlight “the amazing bourbon-basted vocals of Kevin St. James,” the show starts at 7 p.m. and is technically free, though a $10 donation is suggested.
After last week ended with three sets of Fourth of July fireworks, this week starts with three more, including two today. In West Haven’s Bradley Point Park, the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular starts at 9 p.m., while in Madison’s West Wharf Beach area—primarily visible from “Surf Club Park, East Wharf Beach and West Wharf Beach,” but also from “many
sponsored by
Tuesday, July 4 – Independence Day
As the biggest municipality in the area, it’s fitting that New Haven should hold its fireworks on the holiday itself. Launching from the top of East Rock Park at 9:15 p.m., the main viewing areas are the grounds at Wilbur Cross High School (181 Mitchell Dr, New Haven), where related diversions begin at 6 p.m., and the neighboring College Woods section of the park.
Wednesday, July 5
ARTE Inc. (19 Grand Ave, New Haven; 203-469-4536), a Fair Haven-based organization “dedicated to promoting Latino art, culture and talent,” is organizing a public mural at the former Strong School building (69 Grand Ave, New Haven), and it wants both your ideas and your hands. The former are being collected and considered this evening during a 5:30 “input meeting” at the group’s headquarters, while the latter, led by Mexican muralist Emilio Herrera Corichi, are getting to work over the weekend, starting as early as 9 a.m. Saturday.
Thursday, July 6
The second show of this summer’s Branford Jazz Series begins at 6:30 p.m. on the Branford Green, where “saxophonist Jeanette Harris and pianist/keyboardist Jay Rowe will share their sensational jazz supremacy.” Rowe is a native of Milford, by the way. Free.
Friday, July 7
In Town Center Park (2761 Dixwell Ave, Hamden), tonight’s installment of the free Hamden Summer Concert Series features a famous act that might be extra-familiar to New Haveners: George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, who performed during last year’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Beginning at 7:30 with opening act DJ Rachel, the funk and R&B powerhouse is scheduled to take the stage at 8:15.
Saturday, July 8
At 9:30 a.m., SkyHoundz, a national and international organizer of frisbee competitions for dogs, has a local championship happening in Branford’s Young’s Pond Park—and in case you’re wondering, it seems both athletic displays and clever tricks are fair game. Free to attend, organizers caution against bringing any dogs that aren’t in the competition, since they could distract the dogs that are.
Sunken Disco, a recurring dance party “created to provide a more authentic, less commercial club experience in New Haven,” returns to Stella Blues (204 Crown St, New Haven; 203-752-9764) for an all-evening affair. Starting out on the back patio at 5 p.m., then moving inside at 9, dancers imbued with an optional tropical theme (“Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts encouraged”) can enjoy sets by DJs Señor Peludo, Blackeye and Click Click Drone. $5.
Sunday, July 9
Closed to the general public on Sundays, Ordinary (990 Chapel St, New Haven; 203-907-0238) is using the time to host “All About Agave,” a cocktail class led by “veteran bartenders David Blomberg and Moises Ramirez.” From 4 to 6 p.m., attendees are set to learn “how the agave plant is harvested and the differences… between mezcal and tequila,” while tasting “amazing agave cocktails paired with light snacks.” Tickets cost $45 and must be purchased by Wednesday, July 5.
Written and photographed by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
