Depending on the day, the word “office”—as in, a place a person works—can refer to the White House, a sidewalk, an 18th-century palace or even a fictional paper company branch in Scranton, PA.
Monday, October 15
If you understand the ways media can and do mediate—sometimes competently and ethically, oftentimes not—between reality and our view of it, you can’t help but wonder, after more than two years of breathless nonstop coverage related to Russia, about the unmediated reality of “How Russia Lives, Survives and Is Governed,” the title of a free 4 p.m. talk by Russian academic Valeriy Solovey in Yale’s Luce Hall (34 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven). Of course, we should also think critically about what live speakers tell us, so here’s a little background: Solovey is the chair of the Public Relations department at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He’s also consulted for the head of Russia’s Party of Growth, which advocates for freer markets and greater democracy within Russia.
Speaking of media and PR, Anita Dunn—“one of the nation’s most highly regarded communications strategists,” who “served as White House communications director and senior adviser to President Obama’s presidential campaigns, directing conventional and new media communications strategies, as well as research, speechwriting, television booking, presidential events and cabinet affairs press”—is speaking about “Politics, Messaging and the Media in 2018” at 7 p.m. in Linsley-Chittenden Hall (63 High St, New Haven). Free.
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Tuesday, October 16
From 4:30 to 7 p.m., the Eli Whitney Museum (915 Whitney Ave, Hamden; 203-777-1833) invites the public to “celebrate the release of the new Mill River Watershed Management Plan.” Specifically, “meet community members, find out what you can do to improve the health of the Mill River and enjoy a screening of The Mill River—Water & Wildlife by Florence S. McBride.” Free.
Wednesday, October 17
The next local PechaKucha night, wherein presenters give talks using exactly 20 slides shown for exactly 20 seconds apiece, begins at 7 p.m. at the new co-working, office and athletic complex District (470 James St, New Haven). Taking the theme “Wellbeing” in concert with City-Wide Open Studios, food, including a vegan option up for pre-order, is available from Caseus Cheese Truck.
Thursday, October 18
The Hop Knot (196 Crown St, New Haven; 475-202-6847) hosts a themed trivia night based around the long-running and much-beloved American version of The Office (main cast pictured above). Themed food and drink specials include “Kevin’s Famous Chili,” hopefully not spilled all over the floor; brownie-stuffed pretzels to conjure Dunder Mifflin’s many workplace parties; and, for $3, “Orange Vod-Juice-Kas,” which everyone other than Michael Scott knows as screwdrivers. “Signups start at 7:30, trivia starts promptly at 8.” No cover.
Friday, October 19
The State House, a new music venue at 310 State Street, has been active for weeks, but tonight is the official grand opening party. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. for happy hour, then the music starts around 7 p.m., featuring three acts: Pete Greco and The Sisterhood “laying down some sweet grooves with some funky soul”; The Let Loose “
Raising funds for the literacy programs of New Haven Reads, the seventh annual New Haven Reads Spelling Bee happens from 7 to 9 p.m. inside the Yale School of Management (165 Whitney Ave, New Haven), where teams of three are set to compete for orthographic supremacy while wearing costumes befitting the Halloween season. There are also appetizers, desserts, a cash bar and “hilarious emcees
Saturday, October 20
From noon to 4, the third annual New Haven Chalk Art Festival covers the island at the bottom of Broadway as well as the sidewalk in front of the Yale University Art Gallery (1111 Chapel St, New Haven) with “elaborate chalk art designs by talented artists.” Incentivized by gift cards to nearby shops with values between $100 and $1,000, pros and amateurs alike are invited to create and compete. Spectators are also invited, to enjoy “a fun-filled day with entertainment and activities for the whole family” including a magician, face painting, live music and a “Kids Freestyle Zone” where young attendees can try their own hands at chalk art.
Sunday, October 21
You can take in a free matinee at the Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St, New Haven), where Sofia Coppola’s sumptuous and challenging Marie Antoinette (2006), which combines late 18th-century Versailles with contemporary music and is much more a character study than a history, screens at 2 p.m.
Written by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
