March 1

March 14, 2015 is the last chance to see “It’s a Wrap!” in the Widener Gallery before it wraps
  • Last chance to see Randy Gilman’s Sculpture and Assemblages at EBK Gallery [small works], 218 Pearl Street.
  • The Laszlo Gardony Trio will perform as part of the Baby Grand Jazz series at the Hartford Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free.
  • Every Sunday gives you a chance to check out Steve Davis and Friends performing live jazz at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) 6-9 p.m. There’s no cover.

March 2

  • Novelist Amara Lakhous will give a lecture — “Italian Identity in the Making: Migration & Culture” — in the McCook Auditorium at Trinity College, 4:15 p.m. This is free and open to the public.

March 3

  • Peniel Joseph will deliver a lecture, “Lessons from the Struggle: Stokely Carmichael, SNCC, and the Black Power Movement,” at Trinity College’s McCook Auditorium from 4:30-6 p.m. This is free and open to the public.

March 4

  • The Art of Creation: Improvisation and Gender in Music and Dance is a panel session with  Gail Woldu, Jennifer Allen, Lesley Farlow, and Lisa Coons at Trinity College’s Halden Hall at 12:15 pm. This free event is part of the Women Composers Festival of Hartford.
  • Real Art Ways is bring back its Matinee Series: Film Studies 101 with 42nd Street at 1p.m. They say the conversation taking place after the film will look like this: “It’s often said that audiences during the Great Depression wanted escapism, but this film offers the opposite. The conversation begins by discussing what made classical Hollywood “classical,” particularly the system of continuity editing, before looking more closely at how musicals balance story and spectacle. ” Regular admission $11 (less for members).
  • Get HYPEd at Black-eyed Sally’s: Bring your business cards and network while sampling light refreshments. Bring money if you want a meal or drinks. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
  • There’s so much going on tonight I hesitated adding this to the calendar, but if you can’t make it to MakeHartford today, they do have the open house every Wednesday. This is very casual. Show up, snoop around. Check out the shop, the 3-D printer. There’s show and tell happening. The String Thing (it’s essentially a less crass version of the “stitch & bitch”) is in a corner or room. 6-9 p.m., come and go as you please. MakeHartford is located at 30 Arbor Street.
  • The Hartford Public Library will host a forum/panel discussion on freedom and fundamentalism. Announced panelists include Chris Doucot from Hartford Catholic Worker; Dr. Saud Anwar who serves as the co-chair of the American Muslim Peace Initiative, and as mayor of South Windsor; Dr. Reza Mansoor, president of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut; and James H. Smith, a retired newspaper editor. Susan Campbell will moderate. This begins at 6 p.m. in the Hartford History Center, on the library’s third floor. Free.
  • Get a sneak peek of The Hunting Ground at Cinestudio. They say: “The Women & Gender Resource Action Center at Trinity College presents a sneak preview of an important new movie about the dangers of rape culture on college campuses, and how to change it. While the Department of Education is currently investigating 90 colleges for their handling of sexual assault complaints, the film focuses closely on Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Arizona State, UC Davis, USC, Swarthmore College, George Mason, Amherst College, Brandeis and Occidental College, and Florida State – where a student accused of sexual assault (and never charged) remains a prime candidate for the NFL draft this spring. Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (The Invisible War) also showcase Andrea Pino and Annie Clark, survivors who are employing Title IX legal strategy to fight back, sharing their knowledge among a growing network of young women who will no longer be silent. “Believe me, there will be fallout.” – Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California. 102 min.” Producer Amy Ziering will take part in a discussion following the film. 7:30 p.m. General admission is $9.

March 5

  • The Wadsworth Atheneum’s First Thursday event will be themed “Wadsworth Abbey.”  They say: “This after-hours event celebrates the popular TV period drama Downton Abbey, and guests are invited to dress as their favorite character from the series. The evening includes a “3 in 30″ tour of the collection, parlor games, cigars, a sherry and brandy tasking, complimentary snacks, cash bar and more. $5/Free for members and students with ID.” 5-8 p.m. Patrick’s Day screens at 8p.m.
  • Flight Night: pre-selected teams will pitch start-up ideas; attendees can provide feedback. Doors open to the public at 5:30, first pitch at 6 p.m. This will be held in the Connecticut Public Broadcasting building, 1049 Asylum Avenue. Free. Refreshments will be served.
  • The Invisible Women: a free lecture and recital will be held in Capital Community College’s Centinel Hill Auditorium as part of the Women Composers Festival of Hartford. 6p.m.
  • How to Break: They say “HartBeat brings New Haven-based Collective Consciousness Theatre’s concert version of the hip-hop play How to Break to Hartford. Ignited by an electric collision of theatre, breaking, and lyrical flow, How to Break tells the story of two teenage dancers battling their hospital caregivers for control over their own bodies.” 7:30 at the Carriage House Theater, 360 Farmington Avenue. $15 or less.
  • The Professors of Sweet Sweet Music will be jamming at Peppercorns (357 Main) from 7:30-9:30. There are covers, originals, guitar, and ukelele. This is free, but I’m sure they’ll appreciate donations or a round of appetizers or something.

March 6

  • How to Break continues at the Carriage House Theater, 7:30 p.m. $15 or less

March 7

  • Free screening of Weegee’s New York (20 minutes) and Coney Island at Night (4 minutes) at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 1 p.m. Charles Musser, Professor of Film and American Studies at Yale University will give a talk following.
  • Gallery reception at Real Art Ways for Melissa Stern, 4-6 p.m. Free
  • How to Break continues at the Carriage House Theater, 7:30 p.m. $15 or less
  • The Reformed Whores will be performing at the Mark Twain House & Museum at 7:30 p.m. The Mark Twain folk say this is for “mature audiences,” but we think that just means “legal adults” who might be as immature as they wanna be. Tickets are $20, with some discounts.

March 8

  • Last chance to see How to Break at the Carriage House Theater, 2:00 p.m. $15 or less 
  • Matt DeChamplain will perform as part of the Baby Grand Jazz series at the Hartford Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free.
  • Steve Davis and Friends perform live jazz at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) 6-9 p.m. Free.

March 9

  • Come to MakeHartford (30 Arbor) for the Build-A-Kit Session. You can bring your own; if you need one, let MakeHartford know in advance and they will provide.  – 6:30-9 p.m. – $10 for nonmembers, $5 for members

March 10

  • Interested in the Steppingstone Academy? Attend an information session at Covenant Prep School, 135 Broad St. This is from 6-7:30 p.m.

March 11

  • Heart City Story Club: meet in the Hartford Public Library atrium for an open mic storytelling night. Tell true, personal stories without notes. Free and open to the public, this event is from 6-8 p.m.
  • Open house at MakeHartford, 6-9 p.m. Free.

March 12

  • The Connecticut premiere for The Outrageous Sophie Tucker will kick things off for the Hartford Jewish Film Festival. A dinner reception begins at 5:30, live cabaret and film at 7:30 — Infinity Music Hall & Bistro. Expect dessert and a talk with filmmakers and authors Susan and Lloyd Ecker following the screening. Expect to see some ragtime-inspired attire among attendees. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased in advance.

March 13

  • Every Friday the Asylum Hill Congregational Church operates Unclaimed Treasures, its thrift store, from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

March 14

  • From 10-2 the Wadsworth Atheneum will have Rube and Mandy at Coney Island on continuous loop. 12 min. B&W. Free. Admission to the museum from 10-1 is also free. Expect hand-cranked organs to add ambiance.
  • The Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. This happens rain or shine on the route that everyone is familiar with: Capitol Avenue near the State Capitol, left on Main Street, left on Asylum, left on Ford Street, and ending by the Arch. This is free.

March 15

  • Above and Beyond — Bruce Sundlun’s Incredible WWII Journey makes its Connecticut premiere as part of the Hartford Jewish Film Festival. Spotlight Theatres, 1 p.m. $12 A talk with Kara Sundlun and Tim Gray follows the film.
  • Joshua Breakstone will perform in the Baby Grand Jazz series at the Hartford Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free.
  • More Hartford Jewish Film Festival: Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem at Spotlight, 4 p.m. Also at Spotlight at 4p.m., Zero Motivation, which is described as “M*A*S*H meets Girls.” At 7:30, Hanna’s Journey and The Farewell Party screen.   $12  for each
  • Steve Davis and Friends perform live jazz at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) 6-9 p.m. Free.
  • Fixers’ Cooperative: need to mend something? Bring it along and get assistance. This is free and open to the public; donations welcome. MakeHartford, 30 Arbor. 6:30-9 p.m.

March 16

  • Free The Mind is the film for tonight’s “Science on Screen” at Real Art Ways. Dave Vago, an associate psychologist in the Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham Women’s Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School, will talk before the film about how meditation can alter the structure of the brain. This begins at 7 p.m. This is not free.
  • The Judy Dworin Performance Project presents In My Shoes, a mix of movement, music, and spoken word performed by six women who had spent time at York. There will be a talk following the performance. This is 7:30 p.m. at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro. General admission is $20; cheaper with student, senior, and other discounts.

March 17

  • The Board of Education’s monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Sport and Medical Science Academy, 280 Huyshope Avenue. If you want to speak during the public comment period, show up early to sign up.
  • Insider’s Talk with Gabriel Löfvall in the Saint Patrick-Saint Anthony Church‘s Urban Center. They say: “share an insider’s talk with Director of Music Gabriel Löfvall on John Rutter’s Requiem. This session will provide historical and cultural context for this wonderful master-work, offering a sense of the development of the Requiem as a liturgical genre and its special significance in the context of Holy Week.” This is 5:30-6:45 p.m. and registration is required. Suggested goodwill offering of $10. Light supper is included. Register by March 13: 860-756-4034.

March 18

  • Film 101 continues at Real Art Ways with Utamaro and His Five Women. They say the conversation that follows will consider this: “How realistic or fantastic should the story of an artistic revolution be? The discussion starts with style, thinking about Mizoguchi’s deep shots and complex settings, and then considers the figure of the artist as the genre shifts from the musical to the biopic and looks at how Japanese cinema changed under the postwar occupation.” 1 p.m. Admission: $11, max.
  • Open House and String Thing (knit, crochet, knot, weave, whatever you want) at MakeHartford, 6-9 p.m. Free.
  • TRANScribing: Gender Identity, Creativity, and Creative Expression at the Mark Twain House & Museum. They say: “The program will feature two transgender authors:  Joy Ladin, a poet and the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish institution, and Tobias Davis, a transgender activist, playwright, and young adult novelist. The evening will also feature Dr. Joe Wenke, a writer, social critic and LGBTQ rights activist.The panel will discuss their varied journeys and how they create their writings.  Topics will include what audience the authors are writing for, does their transgender status make it hard to get visibility for their work, and how they use their writing as a form of self-expression.” This is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. Reservations recommended: (860) 280-3130.

March 19

  • Creative Cocktail Hour at Real Art Ways, 6-10 p.m. General admission $10; $5 for members. The price of admission includes snacks and entertainment.

March 20

  • It’s Safari Family Movie Night at Asylum Hill Congregational Church. Pizza and chatting begins at 5:30; movies begin around 6:30. Choose between Jumanji and The Jungle Book. Free, but donations are accepted. They say to sign up at the Spirit Hill table in Drew Hall on Sundays.

March 21

Organist Larry Allen to perform with Hartford Chorale at Immanuel Congregational Church Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
  • The HYPE Book Club launches tonight, with the first selection being The Children Act by Ian McEwan. Obtain the book on your own and bring money if you want drinks or a full meal; light refreshments will be provided. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Agave, 100 Allyn Street. Register for this in advance: $5 member, $10 non-member.
  • The West End Community Orchard is holding a pruning party! Gather with other tree-lovers and learn how to maintain them. Meet at 10 a.m. in a yard in the West End. To learn the exact location, contact the West End Community Orchard.
  • The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which had always advertised as being “rain or shine”, was rescheduled for today because of expectation of inclement weather. 11 a.m. step off.
  • The Hartford Chorale presents “Great Music of France” at Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland Street. Organist organist Larry Allen is the special guest. The concert will feature music of Maurice Duruflé, Francis Poulenc, Louis Vierne, Yves Castanget, and more. This begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30; less for seniors and students. See the Hartford Chorale website or contact Hartford Chorale at 860.547.1982 for ticket information.

March 22

  • The Jonny King Trio will perform in the Baby Grand Jazz series at the Hartford Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free.
  • Run Boy Run and It Happened in Saint-Tropez will be shown as part of the Hartford Jewish Film Festival. Both screen at 2:15 p.m. at Bow Tie Cinemas, Palace 17, in Hartford. The Connecticut premiere of Closed Season begins here at 4:30.   $12 each.
  • Steve Davis and Friends perform live jazz at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) 6-9 p.m. Free.

March 23

  • Stop by Arch Street Tavern for live music from the Hartford Jazz Orchestra starting at 8 p.m. This free performance lasts about two hours with a break.
  • Then, head over to Black-eyed Sally’s for more jazz. This starts at 8 also, but goes later. It’s either free or a $5 cover — they don’t have this info posted much in advance.

March 24

  • Dr. David Gushee will talk about his new book: Changing Our Mind: A Call from America’s Leading Evangelical Ethics Scholar for Full Acceptance of LGBT Christians in the Church during the Hartford Seminary’s Lunch Talk starting at noon. Register online.

March 25

  • The Connecticut Forum and Hartford Public Library are collaborating to bring a forum on Connecticut “explorers and adventurers” to the public. As of publication, panelists have not yet been announced. This will take place at the Hartford Public Library, 6p.m. Free.
  • It’s Wednesday, so MakeHartford will hold its open house from 6-9 p.m. This is located at 30 Arbor Street. Free.
  • Basya Schechter: Songs of Wonder (The Heschel Project): Schechter has set the Yiddish poetry of civil rights activist and Jewish philosopher Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel to music. This will be held in the Terrace Rooms of Mather Hall on the Trinity College campus, 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.

March 26

  • The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is hosting a salon on Is Feminism Just for Women? from 5-7 p.m. This free event will include Carolyn M. Treiss, Susan Campbell, and Kyle Turner as guests. Contact Info@StoweCenter.org or 860-522-9258, x317 to make reservations.
  • Opening reception for Afarin Rahmanifar’s Unraveling Stories at Charter Oak Cultural Center. Born in Tehran, Iran, the work of this UConn graduate “is shaped by the intersecting points of eastern and western cultures.  She specializes in painting and mixed media and in Persian miniature illustration,” says the Charter Oak Cultural Center. 5:30-7 p.m. Free.
  • The Italian Film Weekend kicks off at the Wadsworth Atheneum with a reception and screening of Human Capital. 6 p.m. $9.

March 27

  • The Hartford Improv Festival begins at 7 p.m. Prices vary depending on how many events you attend. See the website for the schedule and pricing info.
  • See Spring Dance, choreographed by students, at Trinity College’s Austin Arts Center, Goodwin Theater. 7:30 p.m. Free and open to public.
  • Long Live Freedom screens at 7:30 as part of the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Italian Film Weekend. $9.

March 28

  • The Mafia Only Kills in Summer screens at 1p.m. as part of the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Italian Film Weekend. $9
  • Last chance to see Spring Dance, choreographed by students, at Trinity College’s Austin Arts Center, Goodwin Theater. 7:30 p.m. Free and open to public.

March 29

  • The last Baby Grand Jazz series for this month will feature the Alvin Carter Project. 3-4 p.m at the Hartford Public Library. Free.
  • MakerMovie: They say, “Mission to Mars and presentation by Steven Longpre of BarnStorm Studio, LLC talks about the hydroponics he is developing to go on the Mars missions.  FREE (but donations welcome).  Potluck at 6:00pm, demo at 6:20pm, movie starts around 6:45pm.  All ages welcome; movie is PG-13.”  This is in MakeHartford, 30 Arbor.
  • Steve Davis and Friends perform live jazz at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) 6-9 p.m. Free.
  • Sea Tea Improv performs at City Stream Brewery, 7-9 p.m. This free show is in a brewery, so if you are not of legal drinking age, be present with your parent(s) or guardian(s).

March 30

  • Stop by Arch Street Tavern for live music from the Hartford Jazz Orchestra starting at 8 p.m. This free performance lasts about two hours with a break.
  • Then, head over to Black-eyed Sally’s for more jazz. This starts at 8 also, but goes later. It’s either free or a $5 cover — they don’t have this info posted much in advance.

March 31

  • Jeremy D’Entremont, lighthouse historian, author and photographer, will talk on the mystique of lighthouses. This begins at noon at the Old State House. Free.
  • Novelist Daniel Alarcon will give a reading as part of the A.K. Smith Reading Series. This will be in the Smith House’s Reese Room at Trinity College, 7 p.m.

DISCLAIMERS APLENTY: This is not intended to include all events in Hartford. Preference is given to what the widest range of Hartford residents can afford.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information, but keep in mind: (1) events get postponed or canceled due to weather (2) events get postponed or canceled due to a variety of other reasons that we may never know about (3) sometimes information is conveyed to us incorrectly. Yes, that has happened. More than once. If you are concerned that a change in plans might wreck your entire day, confirm details with the venue.

If you want events listed on the April calendar, send pertinent info to realhartford@gmail.com on or before March 25, 2015. Once the calendar is published, nothing is added; the only changes made are in the case of typos or cancellations.