March Events

Time for another edition of “stop your whining about there being nothing to do in Hartford”:

March 1

• Art After Hours: This month’s party — Guns & Roses-themed — at the Wadsworth Atheneum will feature moonshine tasting. The Abraham Lincoln historical actor will be reading one of the dead president’s letters; no idea how this will pair with the moonshine. Tunes for this evening? Bluegrass.
• Beat City Beauties Do the Russian Lady: This runs from 9 until midnight. If you have not seen this burlesque troupe, you’re missing out. The Russian Lady is at 191 Ann Uccello Street.

March 2

• Tarde de Poesia y Arte: from 5-7pm you can catch this artist reception for Angel Sanchez Ortiz and Ivelisse Pabon de Landron at the Park Branch of the Hartford Public Library. Glaisma Perez Silva will be reciting poetry. This is a free event.

• 75°, an Urban Greenhouse Party!

How many fundraisers do you get invited to inside of a heated greenhouse?

This annual party benefits Knox Parks, which beautifies the city and provides opportunities for community gardening. Tickets are $20advance/$25door. The tropical party goes from 7-11pm at 75 Laurel Street.

March 3

• Trees and Bugs! Between 10-1, families can drop by the Connecticut Historical Society to learn how to identify trees and beetles. This, as well as admission between 9-1, is free.

• Bill Griffith Book Signing: Griffith will be talking about his book, Lost & Found, of pre-Zippy comics. This talk begins at 3pm (Real Art Ways) and is free. Books will be available for purchase.

March 7

• Bicycle Dreams: Fundraiser for Bike Walk CT featuring a film about the Race Across America, which is a 3000-mile bicycle ride lasting, for top riders, ten days. Film begins at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the door (Aetna Theater of the Wadsworth Atheneum) or for a few bucks cheaper in advance.

March 9

• Songs Along the Way: Music, Songs, and Images from Migratory Bird Species of the Park River Watershed: Created in the New Media Collaborative at the University of Hartford, this is a free opening reception for the “micro-exhibit.” The sounds and images collected for this exhibit came from along the Park River. The opening runs from 5-7pm at the Connecticut Historical Society.

• Liquid Lounge: very popular 21+ party at the Connecticut Science Center that gives adults the chance to have fun with the exhibits without worrying about children running amok. This runs from 6-10pm. These parties get crowded quickly, so if you want to go, do not wait until the last minute to secure your tickets.

March 10

• Make a Difference at Burns: During the leadership change at the Burns Latino Studies Academy in February, Principal Sullivan welcomed the community to help the school. There is a baseball field needing to be built, yard needing to be cleaned, and countless tasks to be taken care of inside the building. From 9-1, Burns School parents, students, staff, and the surrounding community have been invited to pitch in. BYO rakes, shovels, etc.

• 41st Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade: It starts at 11. Get there early to snag a sweet viewing spot. The parade happens rain or shine. Sister Peggy Evens will be the parade’s Grand Marshal; Irene O’Connor has been selected as Person of the Year. For folks not-so-boring that they zip out of town the second events end, there are plenty of dining specials downtown that day. I hear there will be cupcakes at Red Rock Tavern for the occasion.

March 17

• Shag Frenzy: the indie dance party kicks off at 10pm at the Arch Street Tavern.

March 23

• Kate Callahan and Andre Balazs: cello, guitar, keyboard, vocals, and more from 7:30-9:30 at La Paloma Sabanera.

March 29-31

• Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival: music, poetry slam, dj battles, workshops and panel discussions. This festival is free and open to the public.

March 30

• Lecture: Eileen M. Angelini, “A Little Known History of Discrimination in New England: The Ku Klux Klan Attacks on Franco-Americans in the first half of the 20th century”: Real Art Ways will be collaborating with the Connecticut Historical Society to bring this lecture about forgotten history of Connecticut. This free talk will begin at 8pm at CHS.

March 31

• SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day: Described as “more of a Lollapalooza than Lilith Fair,” this festival of female musicians and burlesque acts begins at 6pm and ends in April. This is being held at the Dirt Salon on Bartholomew Avenue.

Sundays

• Baby Grand Jazz Series: This free event runs from 3-4 every Sunday. But here’s the catch: unless you are content with standing for an hour, you can not show up at 2:55 expecting a seat. People have been reserving their seats when the Hartford Public Library opens its doors at 1. This calls for teamwork: one family member holding the seats while the others browse the stacks.

Is there anything missing from this list?