Autumn has officially begun (we don’t buy that “summer ends with Labor Day nonsense) which does not indicate fewer events to write in on your calendars.

Every Sunday

Hodge Podge, an open air market, will be held on Pratt Street from noon until 6pm through November 18th. *Note: the Oct. 7th one has been cancelled due to rain*

Every Monday

$8 yoga at the Studio at Billings Forge. Bring your own mat.

October 1

  • Celebrate World Vegetarian Day at the Hartford Public Library with recipes and treats. 4-5pm. Located in “Downtown Youth Library B,” for ages 5+.
  • The Hartford Public Library will be hosting another Banned Books Readout for both banned and challenged books. John Dankosky, host of WNPR’s Where We Live, will be moderating the event. This will be held in the Mark Twain Branch of the HPL, located in Hartford Public High School on Forest Street. Refreshments at 5:30pm, event at 6pm.

October 2

Banned Books Week discussion for youth in the Blue Hills branch of the Hartford Public Library, 3-4pm. What’s so bad about James and the Giant Peach anyway?

October 3

  • Official opening of the Energy Exhibit and Recycle-O-Meter at the Trash Museum on Murphy Road. Breakfast will be provided. 10am-noon.
  • Free musical performance by Lions Gate Trio, Hartt’s trio-in-residence. The violin, cello, and piano music will be happening at Fuller Music Center, Millard Auditorium — 7:30-9:30pm.
  • Last time around, Real Art Ways projected live election coverage onto its walls, allowing many to share in the historical event. Expect more of that. Tonight, Real Art Ways will be showing the first presidential debate. Showtime: 9pm. The cafe will open at 5pm.

October 4

  • Opening reception for FACES IN THE RAINBOW at the Pump House Gallery in Bushnell Park from 5-8pm. The work of Barbara Hudson and Robert Charles Hudson will be on display there from the beginning of the month through November 1, 2012.
  • Discussion about domestic violence at the Hartford Public Library from 5:30-8:30pm. This will be in the Center for Contemporary Culture.
  • Art After Hours at the Wadsworth Atheneum. STREET artist James Nares will be giving a gallery talk at 6pm. The Sam Parker Trio will provide music from 5-8pm. $5 admission.

October 5

  • This will not be the first time Fendika has performed in Hartford, but it will be the troupe’s first solo East Coast tour. Originating from Addis Ababa, the azmari musicians and dancers will be performing at Charter Oak Cultural Center at 7:30pm. $10 admission.
  • Did you miss Moonrise Kingdom when Cinestudio screened it this summer? Well, it’s back. On October 5th and 6th it’ll be playing at Cinestudio; Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30. Go see it.

October 6

  • Patrick Haggerty will lead a tour of the graves of dead politicians in the Cedar Hill Cemetery. Learn about their lives and accomplishments. Tour begins at 10am. $5.
  • Free admission to museum galleries at the Connecticut Historical Society. There are currently two exhibits that only opened at the end of September.

October 7

It’s not Halloween, but Sea Tea Improv will be performing a free Halloween show at City Stream Brewery starting at 7pm. Audience members under 21 must be accompanied by an adult because this is inside a brew pub.

October 10

  • The Old State House writes, “Trinity College professor Stefanie Chambers explores the struggle women and minorities faced in winning the right to vote.” This free lecture and panel discussion will take place from noon until 1pm at the Old State House.
  • There will be a Latino Civil Rights Conference all afternoon in Hearing Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building. Law experts will provide information about legal rights related to housing & lending discrimination, human trafficking, and language access issues. Spanish translation will be available. The free event begins at 1 and wraps up around 5:30.

October 11

  • City of Hartford celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music and cuisine; and the art of Victor Pacheco. This will be in City Hall at 6pm.
  • Catch the VP debate on domestic and foreign policy at 9pm at Real Art Ways; cafe opens at 5.

October 12

“Apple Friday” at the West End Farmers’ Market. There will be a food preservation demo so you can learn how to eat locally year-round. There will also be an apple pie raffle. For sale: hot cider and cider doughnuts. The market is on the corner of Farmington Avenue and South Whitney, from 3:30-6:30.

October 12-14

Stitches East is open to the public from 12-6 (Friday and Saturday) and 12-4 (Sunday) at the Connecticut Convention Center. Registration is required for classes.

October 13

  • Free admission to the Wadsworth Atheneum. Characters from Connecticut Ballet’s production of Alice in Wonderland will be on hand, the classic version of that film will screen, and visitors will have the opportunity to make surreal art using mirrored paper.
  • Night Fall will be a seasonal celebration including music, puppets, lanterns, dance, and spoken word. 6pm. Free.

October 14

  • “Furry Friends Pet Parade and Fair.” Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Real pets must be leashed; stuffed animal “pets” require no such leashing. The parade begins at 11am at the Connecticut Historical Society.
  • At noon, Tibetan nuns will begin to dismantle the mandala that has been on display at Trinity College for several weeks. The sands will be dispersed into the Connecticut River at Charter Oak Landing. To see the mandala before it is removed, stop by between 10-5 on weekdays and 1-5 on Saturdays through October 13. This is on display in the Austin Arts Center, Garmany Hall

October 16

Real Art Ways will be showing another presidential debate at 9pm, with its cafe opening at 5pm.

October 17 and 18

Fendika will be wrapping up its East Coast tour at the Artists’ Collective where it will give dance and percussion workshops from 4-8pm.

October 18

  • Free opening reception for “The Countess and Her Cats” at the Mark Twain House & Museum at 5:30pm.
  • LGBT Night Out: Free wine and snacks at Hartford Stage for Hartford Stage’s “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patrons” starting at 6pm.

October 19-25

Detropia will be playing at Real Art Ways. Pop some Prozac and go learn about the collapse of the economy and the American Dream myth.

October 20

This is the day you’ve been looking forward to since last year: Hooker Day Parade. Go downtown. Look for the zaniness from 2-3pm.

October 22

The presidential debate on foreign policy will be screened at Real Art Ways at 9pm; cafe opens at 5pm.

October 23

Clothes Swap at the West End Farmers’ Market. They say, “bring some, take some.” The market runs from 3:30-6:30pm on the corner of South Whitney and Farmington.

October 25

Hartford Environmental Summit, 5-8pm in the Hartford Public Library’s Center for Contemporary Culture. The library describes the “mission of the meeting”: “to increase collaborative involvement and action among private and non-profit organizations and committed individuals in projects that help transform the City of Hartford into a sustainable community.”

October 26

It’s gotten so popular that reservations are now required: Cedar Hill’s Haunted History Lantern Tour. Character actors will bring to life tales of notable (and less so) Cedar Hill “residents'” lives and ends. This is $12 and definitely worth experiencing at least once. This is not suggested for children under 13. Dress like you understand you are living in New England and wear comfortable shoes for walking. Call 860-956-3311 for reservations.

October 26 through November 1st

How to Survive a Plague, the story about two AIDS activist groups, will be screening at Real Art Ways.

October 28

Last chance to see STREET at the Wadsworth!

October 31

  • Tour Harriet Beecher Stowe’s house and learn about 19th century spiritualism. Tours at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30pm. $15/person.

Is there anything missing from this list? Leave a comment.