A handful of people are winning big this week. But with so many ways to enjoy ourselves, the rest of us are winning too.
Monday, September 16
At 6:30 p.m. at RJ Julia Booksellers (768 Boston Post Rd, Madison; 203-245-3959), Tony Renzoni, author of Connecticut Softball Legend Joan Joyce (2019), sits down for a conversation with Connecticut softball legend Joan Joyce, whose pro career included “an incredible 150 no-hitters and 50 perfect games.” Oh, and “she also set records in basketball and later went on to a stellar career in the LPGA.” The talk is free to attend, with an option to buy a copy of the book ($21.99) and get it signed.
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Tuesday, September 17
The New Haven Preservation Trust, which aims to “honor and preserve New Haven’s architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and collaboration,” prefaces its short annual meeting tonight at the Q Clubhouse (221 Church St, New Haven) with “a reception, silent auction, and presentation on the allure of cities built for walking”—an especially relevant topic in the Elm City, which has, by at least one metric, ranked among America’s most walkable urban environments. The 5:30-to-8:15 affair is both free and public, though advance registration and a $20 donation are encouraged.
Wednesday, September 18
The annual Windham Campbell Prizes Literary Festival brings together the winners of the prizes—meant to “call attention to literary achievement and provide writers with the opportunity to focus on their work independent of financial concerns” thanks to $165,000 unrestricted grants—begins today. Things kick off at 5 p.m. in the lecture hall at the Yale University Art Gallery (“enter at 56 High Street or 201 York Street”), where poet Eileen Myles delivers the annual keynote lecture, always titled “Why I Write.” That’s followed tomorrow and Friday by 18 more events at 10 venues—from a time-drifting examination of the “Technological Wild West” to a conversation between playwrights about how to address class and other potentially touchy topics. All events are free and open to the public.
Thursday, September 19
30 years after it changed cinema, Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee’s frank and tragic but somehow humorous tale of a day in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, gets a free anniversary screening in rare 35mm thanks to the Yale Film Study Center. The showing starts at 7 p.m. in the Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St, New Haven). Free.
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Friday, September 20
Leaving from the corner of Chapel and Church Streets at 4 p.m., New Haveners are marching as part of a global day of speaking and striking against climate change. “Wear black to pay respect to those who have died, are dying, and will be dying from climate related issues.”
PRIDE New Haven—an annual celebration of local LGBTQ+ people, culture and history spearheaded by the New Haven Pride Center—has interesting events every day this week. But the festival crescendoes this weekend, starting tonight with a pageant that will crown this year’s Mr. and Miss Gay New Haven from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Partners Cafe (365 Crown St, New Haven; 203-776-1014). Then, on Saturday, the day starts with a PRIDE March stepping off from the New Haven Green at 1 p.m., segueing at 2 p.m. into the “centerpiece” of the whole affair: the PRIDE Block Party, which promises “eight hours of entertainment, family fun, food trucks, information booths, and more” on Center Street between Orange and Church. And then, there’s the official after party at Gotham Citi (84 Orange St, New Haven; enter from Center St), lasting ’til closing time at 2. Free.
Saturday, September 21
Local advocacy and activist group Junta for Progressive Action “celebrat
Sunday, September 22
Starting at 7 p.m., the next concert in the well-appointed coffeehouse at nouveau fitness center mActivity (285 Nicoll St, New Haven; 203-936-9446) features folk singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler, “a natural storyteller with a beautiful voice” who delights live audiences with “comic routines and serious discussions in addition to the songs themselves.” (She’s apparently also an artist’s artist, having been covered by the likes of Bette Midler, Kenny Loggins and Peter, Paul and Mary.) Since the timing is just about right, maybe she’ll play her tune “When Fall Comes to New England,” in which “the wind blows off the sea” and “the world was meant to be.” $25.
Written by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
