Archive for September, 2012

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, September 28, 2012 by:Christina Hennessy
Comment
Comments
|
|

You still have time to get yourself ready and get a ticket so that before the night is over you may have a chance to hear “Galway Girl” or “Seven Drunken Nights” as brought to you by Celtic Thunder. This Irish/Scottish music troupe is making a stop in Wallingford as part of its 63-city North American tour. Be prepared for a mix of historic tunes and pop classics.

Other musicians planning performances in the state this weekend, and beyond, are Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo; the Guastavino Trio, Gary DeCarlo and his band Heat; Yoon Kwon, Joel Noyes and Milan Milisavljevic of the Met Opera Orchestra; Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jen Chapin Trio and Brian Vander Ark; Big Sean; Glen and Grant-Lee Phillips; pianist Yue Chu; Lions Gate Trio; Tokyo String Quartet; New Orleans’ Hot B Brass Band; and Richard Elliot with David Benoit Trio. There also will be an afternoon of poetry and jazz at the Sherman Playhouse. And, the Trumbull High School Golden Eagles hosts its 30th annual Marching Band Fall Classic.

Some funny guys will be performing, too, including Adam Carolla and Rich Little (see video below). Meanwhile, the theme of “mom” is evident in the appearances of Andrea Mezvinsky-Kolb (“America’s Funniest Mom”), and Margaret Cho, who is in the state as part of her Mother Tour.

The fairs and festivals continue, such as the Durham Fair, the Big E, the Armonk (N.Y.) Outdoor Art Show, a carnival to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, the Japanese Culture Festival and the New Canaan Nature Center will be celebrating the harvest.

For kiddies and families, there are many activities happening during the weekend, including the Teddy Bear Clinic at Greenwich Hospital, Children’s Day at the Little Red School House and Scout Day and Sunday Explorers in Stamford. You can also can team a day of talk with some taste. John Barricelli, owner of SoNo Baking Comany, will be speaking at the Norwalk Public Library next week.

You can catch all manner of art this weekend. In Danbury, an exhibition of photographs is running in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market. In Greenwich, the Bruce Museum is celebrating “Museum Day Live!” and the “Face & Figure: The Sculpture of Gaston Lachaise.” And it is the first weekend of “A Persistent Passion: The Art of Lora Eberly Ballou, 1870-1976″ in Stamford. The Stratford Center for the Arts is putting on an Arts Open House at the American Shakespeare Festival theater.

Theater opportunities and events abound. “The Goodbye Girl,” “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” “The Retreat From Moscow” and “Carousel” are in their final weekends. Meanwhile, “Satchmo at the Waldorf,” opens next week at the Long Wharf Theatre.

And if you still haven’t found something that strikes your fancy, we are getting into fall foliage season in Connecticut. And, the state has made it easy to see where you should visit if you want to take a leisurely drive.

Until next time …

Musical workshop with Jane Benson at Aldrich art museum

Friday, September 28, 2012 by:Linda Tuccio-Koonz
Comment
Comments
|
|

Jane Benson, whose hybrid musical instruments are featured in the “united states” exhibition series at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, will lead an interactive workshop at the Museum on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m.

The workshop will feature a demonstration from Benson, opportunities to experiment with her instruments and time to explore the relationship between sound and instrumental sculpture. Visitors also will have the chance to write their own graphic scores.

Benson’s most recent body of work involves “splits” — slicing violins, violas, cellos and double basses in two. The instrument halves are then made whole again through the act of “music making” on the sections, through the collaboration of two or more musicians.

For more information, contact Suzanne Enser-Ryan at 203-438-4519, seryan@aldrichart.org or go online.

Check out a video of Benson’s work with Glassbrook Project, below:

Michael Bolton show a no-go in Trumbull, town angry over cost

Thursday, September 27, 2012 by:Scott Gargan
Comment
Comments
|
|

Pictured: Michael Bolton was supposed to perform in Trumbull earlier this month.

“Missing You Now” might be the perfect song to describe Michael Bolton’s feelings about Trumbull.

Sagging ticket sales for his scheduled concert at Indian Ledge Park last Saturday led to the show being cancelled two weeks ago, the Connecticut Post reported.

That angered many in town. But it’s not because they wanted to see him perform. It’s because, they say, the cancellation is costing the town money it can’t afford.

Click here for the full story.

Country icon George Strait plans final tour, Connecticut stop

Thursday, September 27, 2012 by:Linda Tuccio-Koonz
Comment
Comments
|
|

Pictured: Country music icon George Strait is planning the last tour of his career.

Country music icon George Strait has announced plans for his final tour, which includes a stop at Hartford’s XL Center on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Tickets, which start at $69.50, go on sale Oct. 12 via Strait’s website.

“This is going to be a very special, emotional tour for me,” Strait, who celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this year, said of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. “Everywhere we’re going holds fond memories and I’m looking forward to paying my respects.”

Martina McBride is set to join Strait for the 2013 dates, which begin Jan. 18 in Lubbock, Texas.

Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Strait has had 59 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Country Charts, has earned more than 60 major industry awards and sold over 65 million albums. He is one of only two artists (after Eddy Arnold in 1966) to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame while still actively recording and producing chart topping hits and albums.

Strait plans to continue recording new music and play select dates around the country following completion of the tour.

Marilyn Maye to share life lessons in Stamford

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 by:Christina Hennessy
Comment
Comments
|
|

In her lifetime of performing, singer Marilyn Maye has played in venues large and small, appeared on television, teamed up with symphonies, and entertained theater audiences. It is a legacy worth sharing, Maye said during a recent interview.

As such, the 84-year-old Wichita, Kan., native, will  be offering a master class, “The Art of the Performance,” on Wednesday, Oct.3, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., in advance of her Oct. 5 concert at the Stamford Center for the Arts’ Palace Theatre in Stamford, Conn. She said she hopes adults and teenagers, those 16 and older, come out for the opportunity.

“At this point in time, I need to share the experiences that I have had,” she said last week. “I’ve had so many experiences with so many musicians and music, and I need to share that now … I need to pass on whatever I know about the art of the performance.”

All skill levels are encouraged to participate, or as described in a recent news release: “shy newcomers with long-held dreams to those with years of professional experience.”

To register or for questions about the class, contact Carol Bryan, the Stamford Center for the Arts director of education at 203-517-3431 or by email at cbryan@scalive.org.

WWE removes raunchy videos ahead of U.S. Senate race

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 by:Scott Gargan
Comment
Comments
|
|

WWE fans — and voters — are going to have a tough time finding videos from the wrestling empire’s raunchy Attitude era.

Stamford-based WWE, the company that U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon ran before entering politics, is removing unspecified “dated and edgier footage” from YouTube, saying the material has been misused for political purposes, the Connecticut Post reported.

“For years WWE has produced programing that is rated PG in primetime, and most recently rated G on Saturday morning,” company spokesman Brian Flinn wrote in an email titled “WWE Protects Its Brand.”

However, as the Greenwich Time reported, the company isn’t completely trashing the reels — in November, just after the election, WWE will be releasing an “Attitude Era” Blu-ray.

McMahon, a Republican, is running against U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.

Check a clip from the Attitude era, below:

Westons residents picked as finalists in Martha Stewart awards

Monday, September 24, 2012 by:Scott Gargan
Comment
Comments
|
|

Pictured: Marina Marchese of Red Bee Honey (below) and Frances Palmer (right) of Frances Palmer Pottery, both in Weston, have been selected as a finalists in Martha Stewart Presents American Made Awards.

The sweet taste of victory isn’t far for two Weston residents.

Marina Marchese, owner of Red Bee Honey, and Frances Palmer, proprietor of Frances Palmer Pottery, have recently been selected as a finalists in Martha Stewart Presents American Made Awards.

Marchese and Palmer were chosen in their respective categories — Marchese for Food; Palmer for Design — from thousands of entries from across the country (see Palmer on Martha Stewart Living).

Launched by Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living magazine, the awards are designed to celebrate “creative entrepreneurs who are making products that are innovative, inspiring and beautiful,” according to the contest website. The winner will be honored at the American Made event in New York City, appear in  Martha Stewart Living magazine and receive $10,000.

Voting will take place from now until Monday, Sept. 24. Voters will be automatically entered to win great prizes from Avery and The UPS Store and Martha Stewart products.

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, September 21, 2012 by:Christina Hennessy
Comment
Comments
|
|

Eyes will be to the sky in Greenwich this weekend when the 14th annual Hawk Watch Festival & Green Bizarre sets down at Audubon Greenwich. In addition to spectators who will be watching as thousands of raptors migrate from New England and Canada to winter habitats in South and Latin America, there will be a release of rehabilitated hawks, a bazaar, children’s activities and live birds of prey shows.

It is a weekend awash in festivals and fairs. The Norwalk Boat Show continues through Sunday. The Health, Wellness and Sports Expo will set up shop at Stamford’s Chelsea Piers. There will be a crafts festival in Tarrytown, N.Y. There also will be Arts & Crafts on Bedford in Stamford (part of a larger downtown event). In New Canaan, they will be celebrating cider. Farmfest is happening in Brookfield. The 47th annual Pumpkin festival is scheduled to sprout in Seymour.

Music fans, as always, have plenty of opportunities to catch artists spanning multiple genres. Blue Sky Riders, a new group that features Kenny Loggins, will be in Ridgefield. The Carolina Chocolate Drops will be in Fairfield (you can see their cover of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘em Up Style,” above). The Antlers will be in New Haven. Brian Torff and the Phantom Pluckers perform at the Bijou in Bridgeport. Joe Louis Walker, Nas, The Roots, Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey and Gotye will all be performing in the state. A barbecue will be teamed with music, too, in Fairfield.

Some art exhibitions open this weekend that are worth checking out, too, such as one at Stamford Museum and Nature Center that celebrates “Flash Gordon and the Heroes of the Universe.” Connie Horton shares her eclectic mix of works at the Kent Memorial Library, while Sarah Hutchinson’s work will be up for view in Bethel. “Make Art, Not War” opens in Bridgeport. And, the first-ever temporary public exhibitions open at the Glass House in New Canaan. A whole boatload of art is docked in Greenwich, too.

And for the area’s “Wonderama” fans, it doesn’t get much better than a Sonny Sunday.

Until next time …

P.S. I know that the Flash Gordon exhibition at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center really has nothing to do with the 1980 film, which has become a cult classic. But it did feature a soundtrack by Queen. And, I love Queen, so I am taking the opportunity, here, to share a video of the title theme. Enjoy!

Page 1 of 3123