6-16-14 Jive

Good evening! It’s Monday, June 16th. This is the Jive at Five – our daily community calendar and rundown of night time programming here on 88.1 FM, WESU Middletown, your station for NPR, Pacifica, independent and local public affairs by day, and the best in free-form community programming weeknights and weekends.

I'm Maria Johnson, producer and host of Reasonably Catholic: Keeping the Faith. Tomorrow at 4: a visit with Brake the Cycle of Poverty, which will be riding through Connecticut to bring attention to poverty in our state and nation. If you want to join them, you can find information at brakethecycleofpoverty.org. That's brake spelled b-r-a-k-e.

Here at WESU, we’re celebrating our seventy-fifth year of Community Radio that Matters, and are in the middle of our Spring Pledge drive. If you value the kind of important programming WESU provides, we need your support to help us cover the daily costs of operating WESU.  Your donation will also help us stay on track to implement some needed studio upgrades as well. Please make your donation at our website, www.wesufm.org, Thanks!

Now here's some of what's happening in our area this week:

Tonight at 8, at the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, there’s the usual Monday evening “Moments of Gratitude” at 7:45, and the Anything Goes Open Mic at 8 is hosted by Eric Kuhn. Tuesday at 6 p.m. there’s Laughter Yoga, with certified Leader Poitras.   On Wednesday at 8 The Evening Oasis returns, offering belly dancers with traditional dress and music.  On Friday at 8 there’s performer/songwriter Hugh Moffatt, offering music with international and multi-dimensional themes. Saturday morning, starting at 7:45, the Buttonwood offers Qigong, tai chi, and community yoga.  Saturday evening brings Russ Becker & Steve Roane at 8 p.m., featuring clarinet compositions with a jazz beat.  Sunday at 1 p.m., Food Not Bombs serves food outside the Buttonwood Tree.  Anyone is welcome. You’re invited to help prepare the meal at the First Church on Court Street at 11:30 am.  More at www.buttonwood.org

Up in Hartford, at Blackeyed Sally’s, tonight brings the weekly Jazz Monday event, with tonight’s featured performers, Steve Davis & Friends.  On Tuesday they have Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra, an 18-piece band that jams and presents new material.  On Wednesday at 8 one of the longest running weekly blues jams in New England will be hosted by Danny Draher. And Thursday brings Ray Morant's Rotating Glitterati to the Sally’s stage, this week featuring The Matt Zeiner Band.  On Friday, they’re hosting the 15^th annual Black-eyed and Bluesfest starting at 5 p.m. at the Bushnell Park Pavilion in downtown Hartford. Some of the hottest blues bands around will be performing.  On Saturday they’re featuring blues guitarist Chris Ruest at 9 p.m.  www.blackeyedsallys.com  .

Tonight, down at Toad’s Place in New Haven, there’s A Night of Smooth Jazz with Rohn Lawrence and Friends in Lilly’s Pad. Wednesday brings Black Star Riders, as well as NightBitch and Vengeance at 9 p.m.  On Thursday, Timeless Entertainment and Unknown Celebrities present Raekwon.  On Friday, the Summer Jam 2014 starts at 7:30, featuring a variety of artists.  On Saturday at 8 their INTENSE! Series features The M Machine, Vaski, and others.  On Sunday at 7:45 they headline Tegan and Sara, with their Let’s Make Things Physical tour, along with other acts. www.toadsplace.com

Also in New Haven, tonight at 8 pm, at Café Nine, they’ve got the Fistful of Jokes Comedy Series. On Tuesday, Manic Productions and Burger Records present White Mystery and others at 8:30.  Wednesday, from 5 to 7, it’s La Cantina Flamenco, with guitarist Ed Peccerillo. That’s followed at 8 by Manic Productions’ presentation of Robert Francis & the Night Tide, along with Carly Ritter and Maxim Ludwig.  . On Thursday there’s another Manic Productions show with The Toasters, King Django, and Across The Aisle. Friday’s Weekly Wind Down Happy Hour at 5 features Tom Hearn, and at 9 p.m. they offer True Blues, Someday Rumble, and Polluter.  Saturday’s jazz jam at 4:30 is with Tony Dioguardi & Friends. Later Saturday night, Taco Hut presents Zanders, Not Blood Paint, Loom, and Branchwater at 9 p.m.   On Sunday at 3 they’ve got The Return of DrinkDeeply’s Summer Surf Series, featuring Ninth Wave, and The Vivisectors.. Sunday’s Original Sunday Night Jam at 8 features The Morris Trent Band.  www.cafenine.com

Tomorrow, and every Tuesday in June, WESU’s own DJ Lord Lewis presents The Rumpus Room on the Waterfront, playing vinyl sets of the best in contemporary and vintage heavy funk, soul, afrobeat, rare groove and more. That’s at the Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Drive, in Middletown. www.mattabesettcanoeclub.com

Manic Productions brings a number of additional acts to the area this week.   On Tuesday, at The Space in Hamden, they feature Ratking and others at 7:30 p.m.   Also on Wednesday, at Bar in New Haven, they’ve got Maria Minerva, Mind Dynamics and Tinnniens  for a 10 p.m. show. 

www.manicproductions.org  

Middletown’s premier senior chorus, the Middletuners, performs live on Wednesday at 3 at the Middletown Senior Center.  Information at 860-347-4887. 

At the Russell Library in Middletown, Elizabeth Petry leads the Veterans’ Writing Group on Thursday at 7 p.m.  www.russelllibrary.org

Tours of the Wadsworth Mansion happen every Wednesday at 2 p.m.

860-347-1064

This week, The Buttonwood displays the artwork of Kathy Parrish Peterson.  Also, Michelle Podgorski’s exhibit, “Fragmented Landscape,” will be on view all month at the Green Street Arts Center, downtown Middletown. The Art Guild of Middletown offers their 2014 exhibit tonight through Saturday at the Zilkha Gallery South daily from one to four p.m. 

The Middlesex Community College 10th Annual Arts and Media Festival continues at the Middletown Campus.  Information at 860-343-5806.

On Wednesday, at 7 p.m., First Church on Court St. in Middletown hosts the Middletown Scottish Dancers.  Partners not necessary; 860-347-0278 for information.   Also at First Church, Argentine Tango is taught on Fridays through June by a teacher who studied with Forever Tango performers.  Beginners at 7:30; intermediate and advanced at 8:30; then a tango social at 9:30. Information by calling Gem at (203) 543 8099.

Also, every Friday, at 9 p.m., Dave Downs hosts a new weekly open mic and invites songwriters to perform at The Nest, located at 129 Church Street, Middletown. Info at 860.788.2736.

Jeff Halper, founder and Coordinating Director of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, will be speaking this weekend in Storrs and Old Lyme. He is sponsored by the Israel/Palestine Peace, Education and Action Group of Northeast Connecticut.  More information at 203-934-2761.

This Sunday, Riverwood Poetry, Incl, presents its annual Social Justice Poetry Reading at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, from 2-4 p.m.  This years theme is “Alabanza:  In Praise of The Spirits That Move Us,” featuring Martin [Mar-teen] Espada, UMASS-Amherst professor who has been called the Latino poet of his generation.  He is joined by poet and performance artist Ngomo [In-go-mo] Hill. www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org has more.

Also on Sunday, the Greater Middletown Chorale has its annual gala event at the Wadsworth Mansion, starting at 4 p.m.  This year’s theme is The Roaring Twenties.  More at gmchorale.org, or 860-316-4854.  

Spring Bird Walks happen every Saturday at 8 a.m. at The Audubon Shop, 907 Boston Post Rd in Madison.  The number to call is 203-245-9056.

Now here's a rundown of cinema off the beaten track in Central Connecticut:

At Real Art Ways in Hartford, the run of “Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago,” continues this week on Tuesday and Wednesday only.  This film follows pilgrims from all walks of life as they attempt to cross an entire country on foot. “Ida,” a Polish film about a woman who, before taking final vows a nun, discovers a family secret from the Nazi occupation, will be shown tonight through Thursday.  This Thursday they host the Creative Cocktail Hour at 6 p.m., with this month’s theme being a Taste of Brazil. On Friday a run of “Next Goal Wins” begins, about the American Somoa soccer team that’s transformed from the world’s worst team into World Cup contenders by a Dutch coach.  On Friday and Saturday, the late show at 9:30 is The Double, starring Jesse Eisenberg. On Saturday, Realartways and Family Life Education celebrate the reopening of George Day Park with a block party from 1 to 4 p.m. that includes free art and music workshops for kids.  Information at www.realartways.org  .

Cinestudio, Trinity College’s cinema in Hartford, continues its run of “Queen Margot,” a high-definition restoration of a French film about the queen married to Henri VI, tonight through Thursday.  This is a special director’s cut edition.  On Friday through Sunday they’re showing  “The Lunchbox,” a comedic love story about a widower nearing retirement in Mumbai who receives lunchboxes from a mysterious source.  More at www.cinestudio.org . 

Now, here’s a rundown of tonight’s  programming on WESU, as the  new summer schedule continues.

5:05‑6pm Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry

 6‑8pm 75% Folk with Michael Benson

 8‑9:30pm The Rumpus Room with Lord Lewis

9:30‑11:30pm   Aargh with Tom Gatzen

 11:30pm‑2am Space Music for Summer with Cadet Q 

 2‑2:30 Bassment Beats with DJ LOKASH

 2:30‑3am New World Show with DJ LOKASH

 3‑4am  The Graveyard Shift w DJ Otto Nation with playlist

4‑5am BBC World News

5‑10am Morning Edition from NPR

And that’s all for today’s Jive at Five, if you didn’t get a chance to write down some of the information mentioned in our community calendar, the script is published online at www.wesufm.org/jive

2014 marks 75 years of alternative music, public affairs, and community service from WESU. Look for information on special programming and events online at www.wesufm.org.

Thanks! Now stay tuned for Charles Henry.