June 2014 Events

June 1

• Free yoga in Colt Park at 10 am. Bring water, a mat or towel, and clothes you can move around in. The group will meet by a “large tree” near the playground that is by the Kinsella School.

  

• Head to Main Street downtown: the Puerto Rican Day Parade begins at noon. After you’ve watched all the motorcycles, ponies, and pageant girls pass by, follow the parade into Bushnell Park for the Festival del Coqui, where there will be music and lots of food until 8pm.
• Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia is the feature film at the 2:30 screening during the Connecticut LGBT Film Festival at Cinestudio. Tickets: $10 (discounts for 65+ and students, $7).
• Who doesn’t need more burlesque in her life? Tonight, the Beat City Beauties present: “Beauties and a Bear: Almost All Girl Revue” at the Arch Street Tavern. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8pm. Get there early to grab the good seats! Not free. Consider getting tickets in advance. It’s helpful to bring cash.

June 2

• Bring a towel or mat, some water, and wear comfortable clothing if you plan to try to some free yoga near the Pump House Gallery in Bushnell Park. 5:30 pm.
• Once in awhile, we let an event that’s not in Hartford slip onto this list. It has to be somewhat unique or for a good cause. The Moishe House West Hartford will be hosting an event at the JCC: Shavuot Cheese Making. Learn about why all that dairy is consumed on Shavuot. Then learn how to make goat cheese. 6-7pm. Free. The Zachs Campus is located at 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.

June 3

• Celebrate the opening of the West End Farmers’ Market for the season, now, in a new location: the green on Farmington Avenue between Owen Street and the Mark Twain House & Museum driveway. The new location offers more space and more parking. 4-7pm. The market will only be operating on Tuesdays this season due to vendor availability.
• Workshop meeting of the Board of Education will feature the annual School Governance Councils forum. This begins at 5:30pm at the Environmental Sciences at Mary Hooker School, 440 Broadview Terrace.

June 4

• Get HYPEd, the monthly networking event for young professionals and entrepreneurs, will be at Hot Tomato’s (1 Union Place), 5:30-8:30pm. They usually provide some free appetizers, but you’ll have to bring money if you want to drink. No registration is required. Bring business cards.

June 5

• The CT Business Expo will be at the Connecticut Convention Center today, 9am-4pm. Free.
• “Thursday Night Fever” at the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Art After Hours. This will be (weather-permitting) a block party. Expect (and wear) disco fashions. 5-8pm. $5 general, free for members. American Hustle screens at 8pm. (If you want access to the Yelp! VIP Lounge, it’ll be an extra $10)
• Check out Harriet Beecher Stowe Center’s Inspiring Action: Real Stories of Social Change. Networking from 3-4pm, panel and dialogue from 4-5:30. Panelists to include JoAnn Price, Patricia Russo, Donya Nasser, and Madeline Sachs. Free. The Stowe Center is all about making reservations: 860-522-9258, ext. 317.

June 6

• The theme of Connecticut Science Center’s Liquid Lounge tonight is “Games and Thrones.” We know nothing about Game of Thrones. We’ll never be royals. We do know that Liquid Lounge is a chance to play in a child-free environment, great for those who need a little break from their own tots. This is a 21+ party, featuring music, henna, jousting, fortune telling, wandering minstrels, fencing, and more. Tickets are $15 if purchased before June 5; $18 at the door. Liquid Lounge tends to sell out. 6-10pm. No realistic weapons (we’re assuming no actual weapons either) are permitted. Bags larger than 9″ x 5″ will be searched. Backpacks not allowed.

June 7

Today is Connecticut Trails Day Weekend! There are events happening statewide, with parking fees waived at state parks and forests. Here’s what’s scheduled for Hartford:

• Ed Richardson and John Kehoe will lead a two mile nature walk through Cedar Hill Cemetery. The two hour walk begins at 10am. Meet at the bridge near the cemetery’s entrance. Rain or shine. Leave your pups at home.

• Maybe your kid is only playing all those video games all the time because she has not found an outdoors sport she liked yet. Introduce your kids to new activities (or just let them play at what they already like) at the Riverfront today, 10-3. This is totally free. There will be cricket, orienteering, golf, fishing, rowing, climbing, mountain biking, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and more.
• Go on an educational walk along Main Street to Bushnell Park, beginning at the Butler-McCook House (the yellow, you know, house) on Main at corner of Capitol Avenue. Walk begins at 1pm. If it rains, it’ll be rescheduled for the same time on Sunday. This is only a one-mile walk. Pre-registration is suggested: 860) 247-8996 x11. This outing will be wheelchair accessible.

• (Not part of CT Trails Day Weekend) For those who’ve been deep into zines, all you need to know is that Joe Biel will be at the Emanuel Lutheran Church (311 Capitol Avenue) at 6pm and tickets can be purchased in advance. There will be a vegan, gluten-free buffet. Maybe that’s not all you need to know. Here is the event description: “As the audience arrives, they serve themselves from chef Joshua Ploeg’s gourmet vegan and gluten-free buffet spread. While eating, Joe Biel plays a series of his short films about bicycle activism and culture—his newest shorts focus on the family bicycling movement. Then local advocates and sponsors have a chance to get up and talk about their work promoting cycling. Elly Blue takes the stage and gives a presentation about Bikenomics, showing the audience how to make a compelling economic case for bicycling, equity, and transportation activism. At the end there is a chance for questions, discussion, and browsing the Microcosm pop-up book and t-shirt store.  Joshua Ploeg is the the traveling vegan chef. When not touring the world, he is a personal chef and delighter of secret cafe goers in Los Angeles. This tour celebrates the release of his newest title, This Ain’t No Picnic: Your Punk Rock Vegan Cookbook. He lives in California. Joe Biel is the maker of the documentary feature Aftermass: Bicycling in a Post-Critical Mass Portland. He is also the author of several books, includingBeyond the Music. He founded Microcosm Publishing in his bedroom closet 17 years ago and now publishes nonfiction books, zines, and movies. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Elly Blue will be talking on tour about her new book, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy. She is also the author of Everyday Bicycling: How to Ride a Bicycle for Transportation (Whatever your Lifestyle). When she isn’t writing, she publishes books and zines about all aspects of bicycle transportation. She lives in Portland, Oregon.”

June 8

• Whitman Close Tag Sale: “Close” is fancy word for “backyard.” Proceeds from seller spots will go toward maintenance of the Whitman Close Garden. 9am-1pm on Whitman between Capitol and Buckingham.
• Free yoga in Colt Park at 10 am. Bring water, a mat or towel, and clothes you can move around in. The group will meet by a “large tree” near the playground that is by the Kinsella School.
• Tanner Burgdorf and Herbert Virigo will be leading a two-mile educational walk through parts of Keney Park, including along Gully Brook. Meet up at the pond house near Edgewood Street at 11am.
• Stop by MDRobertson Photo Arts Open House to peruse, shop, and chat with photographer Maurice D. Robertson. 12-5pm. 69 Myrtle Street, #C2. Ring the bell and he’ll buzz you in.
• The Unity/Peace Block Party is scheduled to get started around noon on Pratt Street. Expect MC battles, face painting, dancing, a flea market, and performances by Joey Batts, Dina Brass, Piopi Rojas, Hold Up, John Tangsauce Manselle-Young,Rassko Lean, Theo ManChyld,Rkum fam, Williano, El Vee and more. Goes until 6pm. Free. NOTE: This is the third or fourth time this event has been rescheduled, so we are permanently dropping it from the event listing. Look them up on Facebook if you’re interested. This is simply too unreliable to include
• Also happening on Pratt Street this afternoon: Yelp Helps Pet People Party. Learn about the Connecticut Humane Society and make crafts for cats and dogs and/or crafts that are pet-themed. There will be music and complimentary Onyx Moonshine cocktails. In lieu of admission, bring some kind of donation for the Humane Society. 3-5pm at Hartford Prints!

June 9

• Free yoga in Bushnell Park! Meet by the Pump House Gallery at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.

June 10

• South West & Behind the Rocks NRZ Annual Meeting begins at 6pm in the Broadview Community Church (45 Oliver). On the agenda: board elections, strategic plan priorities, and committee reports. The NRZ has invited Mayor Segarra, State Senator Fonfara, State Rep. Ed Vargas, City Council president Shawn Wooden, and others to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
• General meeting of the West End Civic Association from 7-8:30 pm at the United Methodist Church (corner of Farmington and South Whitney). All welcome to attend.

June 11

• A five-week workshop on memoir writing begins today. This progressive workshop will be led by Denis Horgan and will focus on memoirs found in the Hartford History Center collection. 10am-12:30pm at the Goodwin Branch (460 New Britain Ave.) of the Hartford Public Library. This is free, but registration is requested: 860-695-6295.
• Free yoga in Elizabeth Park! Meet in the picnic area across from the Pond House at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.

June 12

• The Farmers’ Market at Billings Forge is every Thursday, 11am-2pm on the green. This is located on the block of Broad Street between Capitol Avenue and Russ Street.
• It’s not that the rose garden at Elizabeth Park is dull, but there are other parts of the park and ways to see it. A free “Full Moon Tour” is planned for tonight. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. Gather at the Pond House at 8pm. Plan to walk around for awhile. The rain date for this is June 13.

June 13

• Read It & Sleep: a pajama story hour at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. Author Crystal Senter-Brown will be reading her book, Gabby Saturday, a story about a weekend adventure in a museum. This is free. Snacks will be served and children can take home a free copy of the book. This begins at 7pm.

June 14

• Rosie Perez will be coming to the Burns School! More details about time and ticket prices coming soon. This event has been postponed.

Today is the 10th annual Connecticut Open House Day, a statewide event to show off what we’ve got. Here’s what’s on the roster for Hartford:

• Tom Sawyer Day at the Mark Twain House & Museum. This free event will include pony rides, crafts, and music. Tours of the Twain House available at discounted prices ($10 adults, $5  children). 10-4.
• Free tours of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. There are free horse-drawn carriage rides and walking tours around Nook Farm. (Today is also the Harriet Beecher Stowe birthday celebration)
• Come by the Wadsworth Atheneum from 10-5 for Juneteenth Family Day. The museum says: “Celebrate African American art and culture and commemorate June 19, 1865, when the enslaved in Galveston, Texas first learned of their freedom – two and half years after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation. This free, fun-filled family event features performances, art-making activities, music, tours, and more! “

• (not part of Open House Day) There will be a “Day of Action” for Cecily McMillian, an Occupy Wall Street activist who has accused an undercover officer of groping her. Learn about this case and take action. 11am-2pm at the Hartford Public Library.
• (not part of Open House Day) The Hartford Advocate does not really exist anymore, not the way it used to, but all the same, Black-eyed Sally’s will be hosting some of the Hartford Advocate Grand Band Slam winners tonight, starting at 8:30. No cover.

June 15

• Rose Sunday in Elizabeth Park: music, farmers’ market, garden tours, and other activities to celebrate the Rose Garden’s 110th anniversary. 10am-4pm.
• Free yoga in Colt Park at 10 am. Bring water, a mat or towel, and clothes you can move around in. The group will meet by a “large tree” near the playground that is by the Kinsella School.
• The Hartford City Ballet will be performing “Alice in Wonderland” today at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The show begins at 2pm. General admission is $20; $15 for seniors, students, and children.
• Sea Tea Improv will appear at City Steam Brewery’s Brew HaHa Comedy Club. The free show begins at 7pm. Youth will need to be accompanied by an adult since, you know, alcohol is served here.

June 16

• Free yoga in Bushnell Park! Meet by the Pump House Gallery at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.

June 17

• Tonight is the first public meeting of the I-84 Hartford Project. This will take place from 4-8pm at the Hartford Public Library, with a presentation at 5 and again at 7.
• HartBeat Ensemble will be hosting its recurring HartBeat Happy Hour: First Reads at the Carriage House Theater (360 Farmington) beginning at 5:30pm. After a half hour of mingling, head into the theater to hear a first reading of Transplant written by Felicity Harley. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance (860.548.9144) or at the door.
• Regular meeting of the Board of Education at M.D. Fox, 470 Maple Avenue. The meeting begins at 5:30pm. Public comment is allowed at the regular meetings.

June 18

• Free yoga in Elizabeth Park! Meet in the picnic area across from the Pond House at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.

June 19

• Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium and Charter Oak Cultural Center present the annual Juneteenth celebration, “From Emancipation to Incorporation,” at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. From 5-6:30pm, there will be artistic performances and a panel discussion. There will be a walk down to the Ancient Burying Ground (.4 miles) from 6:30-7:15. The evening ends with refreshments and an open mic.
• Roundtable discussion about dairy farming in Connecticut today, featuring Robin Chesmer from The Farmers Cow, photographer Markham Starr, CT Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky, and Jill Monti from the New England Dairy Promotion Board. This will be at the Institute for Community Research, 6-8pm.
• At Real Art Ways, Creative Cocktail Hour will be outdoors (weather permitting). Ginga Brasileira will bring the samba and capoeira. Deejay Mal will be in charge of the tunes. 6-10pm. $10 general, $5 members. Admission is half price for those wearing soccer jerseys.

June 20

• Last chance to see David Holzman’s Life of Images at the ArtWalk Gallery in the Hartford Public Library.
• Rio will be shown in Pope Park at sundown. Other free activities precede the film at 6:30.
• Deven Green a.k.a. Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian, will be the featured storyteller at The MOuTH. $5. Cursing is allowed, so y’all been warned. If you want to do more than just listen (it all starts at 7:30pm), consider submitting your story for consideration. You can see all the submission details on The MOuTH’s Facebook page. (If you tell a story, you don’t have to pay the admission fee)

June 21

• There will be special tours of Elizabeth Park’s Rose Garden today, 9am-1pm for Hartford Blooms. The mayor is expected to make a proclamation at 10am.
• Go on a Butterfly Hunt at Cedar Hill Cemetery starting at 10am. This is free. They suggest wearing long pants, hiking shoes, and bug repellent.
• It’s “Simsbury Day” at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Simsbury CT residents receive free general admission with proof of residency (driver’s license or a piece of mail with home address will do). 10-5.
• Today is the kickoff of Hartford Blooms, a nine-day showcase of gardens and architecture. There will be an opening reception at the Hartford Public Library, 2-4pm. Free.
• Dr. Ingrid Mattson, a leading Muslim scholar, will be giving the free lecture: “The Earth Is a Home for You.” The Hartford Seminary describes this as, “We live in an age of great displacement, due to political, environmental and economic instability and disparities.  Many feel uprooted and distant from a place they consider their home as a result of forced migration; others move easily in search of economic opportunities, without ever grounding themselves deeply in the places they live.  The tremendous movement of peoples in the 21^st century has been a challenge to nationalism, an ideology that depends on subscribing to a mythical narrative of a unified people within a land.  Multiculturalism has been attacked as a failed response to nationalism, on the grounds that it does not provide norms for common action and interests.  The doctrine of “shared values” promoted by many policy makers in response to the perceived failure of multiculturalism is mostly presented in a jingoistic manner with little substance.  The philosophical discourse of “cosmopolitanism,” in contrast, offers promise for peaceful coexistence and ethical living. Professor Mattson argues that cosmopolitanism finds deep resonance in the Qur’an and early prophetic teachings which have often been marginalized by an imperial Islamic discourse. Further, Mattson argues that an Islamic ethics and practice that emphasizes connection with the earth and the rights of creation can provide cosmopolitanism with a means of engendering a feeling of rootedness and belonging that is necessary to stave off false ideologies of identity.” This two-hour lecture is scheduled to begin at 7pm at the Hartford Seminary (77 Sherman). Registration is suggested.

June 22

• Free yoga in Colt Park at 10 am. Bring water, a mat or towel, and clothes you can move around in. The group will meet by a “large tree” near the playground that is by the Kinsella School.

June 23

• Free yoga in Bushnell Park! Meet by the Pump House Gallery at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.
• Join Knitters Anonymous on the last Monday of each month at StudioN111. This is open to all ages and experience levels. Fiber arts and crafts of all kinds welcome. You’ll have to bring your own materials. 7-9pm. Suggested donation $10. The studio is at 75 Pratt Street, #301.

June 24

• Author Sara Eckel will be giving a talk today at the Hartford Public Library. 5:30pm. Free.

June 25

• Stop by Bushnell Park for the 15th Annual Black-eyed & Blues Fest. The free event goes from 5-11pm. If you want to sit inside the fenced off area, you can’t bring coolers or food or dogs. (If you don’t mind being back in the field a bit — you’ll still be able to hear the music — bring what you’d normally bring to a public park.) Black-eyed Sally’s will be selling food and drink. There will be performances by Danny Draher Blues Band, Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra, Charlie Allen Band, and James Montgomery Blues Band.
• Free yoga in Elizabeth Park! Meet in the picnic area across from the Pond House at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.
• The season of free concerts on the Rose Garden Lawn at Elizabeth Park begins today with music from Eight to the Bar. Bring a picnic, blanket or chair. 6:30-8pm.

June 26

• There will be a reception for Jazz Tones, selections from the CT Fiber Arts Collective, at 100 Pearl Street Gallery from 5-7pm.
• William Hosley will give a presentation: “Reflections on Connecticut’s Agrarian History.” There will also be a screening of the film Working the Land. 6-8pm at the Institute for Community Research.
• Hartford premiere of Love and Lemons, a Swedish comedy with subtitles. Wadsworth Atheneum, 7pm. $9 general, $7 museum members.

June 27

• Last chance to view The Blocks at Charter Oak Cultural Center
• Watch Jaws in Riverside Park at sundown. Free. Bring your own blanket.

June 28

• Cedar Hill Cemetery will be hosting a Birds of Prey presentation. Place Called Hope, a raptor rehabilitation center, will be giving the presentation that begins at 10:30am. Children under twelve are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Admission: $8.
• Opening reception for Tim Wengertsman at the EBK Gallery (218 Pearl). 6-8:30pm.

June 29

• Free yoga in Colt Park at 10 am. Bring water, a mat or towel, and clothes you can move around in. The group will meet by a “large tree” near the playground that is by the Kinsella School.

June 30

• Free yoga in Bushnell Park! Meet by the Pump House Gallery at 5:30 pm. Wear comfortable clothing and bring your own mat or towel.

If you know of a Hartford event in July, get that information to us via email before June 25, 2014. It’s more likely to be included on the list if it is free or affordable to the widest range of Hartford residents, and, if you let us know about it.

Disclaimer: Things happen. People are flaky with info. Venues change. Times change. If any of these possibilities freak you out, contact that venue before heading out the the posted event. We make every effort for information to be accurate.