Summer’s not here yet, but the city can’t wait.
Monday, June 3
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School (150 Kimberly Ave, New Haven), a Mayor’s Night Out event attended by Mayor Toni Harp “and dozens of city officials” invites the public to “ask questions, make suggestions, and otherwise address matters pertaining to New Haven and its governance.”
Tuesday, June 4
Canadian brewery Collective Arts Brewing, now also a gin distillery, is bringing its wares to the rooftop tiki bar at Elm City Social (266 College St, New Haven; 475-441-7436) for a 5 p.m. party featuring a “live mural by Magge Gagliardi, a bartending competition
sponsored by
Wednesday, June 5
At the Yale University Art Gallery (1111 Chapel St, New Haven; 203-432-0601), the latest instance of “Playing Images: An Exploration of Music and Art” begins at 12:30 p.m. Featuring a talk by Jessica Sack, the gallery’s associate curator of public education, and a performance by the Haven String Quartet, the quartet-in-residence of local youth education nonprofit Music Haven, the goal is to “connect close listening to music with close looking at art.” Free.
At 6 p.m. at the State House (310 State St, New Haven), local early-stage business incubator Collab holds its next Pitch Day, in which its latest crop of entrepreneurs explain what they’re doing to possible investors, potential clients and the community at large. Products and services on the docket include “a mobile app that will provide Emergency Room patients with service timeframes, wait statuses, and more before their hospital visit”; “affordable, turn-key lactation rooms for the workplace”; and “bespoke wearable art, handcrafted to inspire, empower, and motivate clients to take risks in fashion and express themselves.” Free; register here.
Thursday, June 6
Today and tomorrow in Temple Plaza, located south and west of the intersection between Chapel and Temple Streets, Happy Hour in the Plaza returns for Summer 2019. Happening from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday through August 23 (with the exception of July 4 and 5), organizers encourage the public to “grab a picnic blanket and enjoy live music from local bands and DJs”; “challenge friends to games of ping pong, corn hole, Big Jenga, Big Connect4 and more”; and “taste and sip curated happy hour food and drink from your favorite #NHV eateries!” Free to attend.
Meanwhile, Eric Blanc—“labor journalist, former high school teacher, and author of Red State Revolt” (2019)—comes to Ives Main Library (133 Elm St, New Haven; 203-946-8130) for a 6:30 p.m. talk. Like his book, the discussion will cover “the teacher strike wave that has transformed the political landscape in the past two years” as well as “the crisis of public education and developments in the US labor movement.” Free.
Friday, June 7
The showroom at Fairhaven Furniture (72 Blatchley Ave, New Haven; 203-776-3099) doubles as River Street Gallery, where new exhibition Land Sea Sky gets an artists’ reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The artists are Anne Doris-Eisner, Hayward Gatling, Joyce Greenfield, Ellen Hoverkamp and Margot Nimiroski, who, “working in different media and different styles,” “interpret the world around us.” Free.
Thanks to hits “Burnin’ For You” and especially “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” classic rock band Blue Öyster Cult, headlining an 8 p.m. show at College Street Music Hall (238 College St, New Haven; 203-867-2000), needs no introduction. The opener, The Revel, is a different story. Much younger than BÖC, the band’s music—’60s- and ’70s-style rock—and fashion sense—1950s greaser—often feel as or more classic. $35-75.
Saturday, June 8
The 2019 International Festival of Arts & Ideas officially begins. Spanning performances, activities, excursions, screenings, talks, workshops and more featuring music, circus, theater, dance, food and more, the very first event spans New Haven and Milford and features cycling and nature. Leaving at 9 a.m. from the New Haven Green, a 28-mile ride along the East Coast Greenway heads to beautiful Silver Sands State Park and back. At the other end of the festival’s first day is, on the New Haven Green, a 7 p.m. concert by local world music dynamo Thabisa and 8 p.m. show by jazz saxophonist/Stamford native Marion Meadows and ace guitarist/West Haven native Rohn Lawrence.
Sunday, June 9
The second Summer Sunday event at Thimble Island Brewing Company (16 Business Park Dr, Branford) features “beermosas”—a riff “made with our Mimosa Brut IPA, orange juice and prosecco.” The whole affair lasts from noon to 6, with live music by Tom Burgess from 1 to 4. Free to attend.
Written and photographed by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.