Thursday's Jive

Good evening, it's Thursday, April 5th.  This is the Jive at Five, our daily community calendar and rundown of nighttime programming here on 88.1 FM WESU Middletown. By day, WESU offers talk radio from NPR and Pacifica, as well as independent and local public affairs sources. Weeknights and weekends our student and community volunteers bring you the best in free-form programming.

I'm JCherry producer and host of VOICE of the CITY,Tuesday from 8-9PM, Showcasing live and local music, arts, and culture., Thanx for tuning in! 

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

Thursday night at The Buttonwood Tree in Middletown its Bob Gotta’s long running monthly Acoustic Open Mic. The Story City Troupe is at The Buttonwood Tree on Friday night. On Saturday morning it’s the Aligned with Source workshop, and the evening show features the Julian Gerstin Jazz Sextet playing jazz with Caribbean and Balkan influences. The Near and Far Storytellers performance on Sunday includes an open mic session. www.buttonwood.org

The Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore in Middletown sponsors Michele Troy on Thursday at 7 pm, presenting “Strange Bird: The Albatross Press and the Third Reich,” about a publishing house that entered into an uneasy relationship with the Nazis to keep Anglo-American literature alive under fascism.www.wesleyanrjjulia.com  

Up in Hartford at Black-Eyed Sally’s, tonight It’s Liviu’s Invitational on Thursday, and on Friday the Ric Mysterie Band brings you jazz, blues, rock and swing. Saturday’s headliner is Poppa Chubby. http://www.blackeyedsallys.com/

At Toad’s Place in New Haven, The Yale Anti-Fling happens Thursday with Injury Reserve & Priests, Phat A$tronaut, and more. On Friday they headline Nick Fradiani.  www.toadsplace.com

Tonight, Café Nine headlines Richard Lloyd, appearing with The Outer Side. Friday’s 5pm Happy Hour set features Snake Hill Blues, and later Friday night, Manic Presents brings Caroline Rose and Henry Jamison to Café Nine. Saturday afternoon Mik Coppola hosts the Nine’s weekly blues jam. Saturday night the Tet Offensive plays the music of Nirvana. TCafe Nine’s Sunday Buzz Matinee presents the Pierce Turner Duo, and the Sunday late show features Trio Da Kali and The Lost Tribe. http://www.cafenine.com/

At The Russell Library in Middletown,there’s an Introduction to the Internet workshop Friday morning, and at 1 pm Friday, they’re screening “2001: A Space Odyssey,” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film. On Saturday morning, at Russell Library, the Future Teachers Club of Middletown High School presents a Spring Program at 11 am, with crafts, stories, and hands-on projects. There are classes in Spanish and French for children Saturday morning at the library too. The library is closed Sundays starting this month; they’ll resume in the fall. Finally, mark your calendar for the library's next Reader's Theater presentation, "Doubt: a Parable," described as "an elegant and provocative investigation of truth and consequences" and "a gripping mystery tightly written." The dramatic reading is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9, at Russell, and again at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 16, at the Durham Library. Admission is free. www.russelllibrary.org

The Wesleyan Center for the Arts sponsors “artzine: show and tell,” all week at the Olin Library, where you can learn about the zine making process. The Opening Reception for the Senior Thesis Visual Art at Exhibition Zilkha Gallery happens Wednesday.  Arnaldo Rodriguez Bagué presents an Artist Talk on Thursday at Ring Family Performing Arts Hall on Thursday in conjunction with the screening of his film, “The Last Island on Earth.” The Dance Department honors Susan Lourie’s 40 years of teaching at the CFA Theater on Saturday at 7 pm, and there’s a Senior Recital at Crowell Concert Hall at 9 pm.  The Noah Baerman Trio presents Jazz With a Conscience on Sunday at 3 pm at the Russell House. Details at www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/

The Friends of the Wesleyan Library hosts an Open House on Wednesday at 4:30 pm at the Olin Library on campus, featuring student-created artists’ books on the Environment. Details at www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

The Costume & Textile Society of the Wadsworth Atheneum offers an Art After Dark event at the ongoing exhibition Gorey’s Worlds Thursday at 5 pm that includes live music, snacks, an art activity, and a special screening of the 1979 movie classic, “Dracula.”  Details at www.hartford.com/events/

Trinity College sponsors their 2018 Women Composers Forum Friday from 9 am to 4 pm at the Austin Arts Center on the Hartford campus. The keynote speaker is Karen Cook. www.womencomposersfistivalhartford.com 

Trinity also hosts the Cuatro Puntos String Quartet Student Composers Workshop at the Center at 4 pm. The Quartet performs at St. Patrick St. Anthony Church in Hartford at 7:30 pm. Details at www.hartford.com/events/

The Webster Underground in Hartford brings American metalcore your way on Friday at 7 with Bur Your Dead, Since the Flood, and more. Details at www.webstertheater.com

Cherry St. Station in Wallingford presents The Pits, VRSA, and Crasis Friday at 8 pm. On Saturday it’s the Agrippa93 CD Release Party, featuring Banth, Owl Maker, and more. Their Sunday Punk Matinée starts at 5 pm. Details at www.facebook.com/CherryStreetStation/

At Infinity Hall in Hartford it’s American roots and folk on Friday with Hot Tuna “Acoustic.” On Saturday, it’s Completely Unchained a Tribute to Van Halen. Friday night at Infinity Hall Norfolk, Dave Davies of The Kinks takes the stage on Saturday you can check Hal Ketchum. On Sunday at Infinity Norfolk you can catch Ramblin' Dan Stevens at 6pm followed by Sierra Hull at 7:30.   www.infinityhall.com

The skating rink at Harbor Park in Middletown is now open on Saturdays and Sundays. Skate rentals and family passes are available. Call the Recreation & Community Services department for hours and full details. 860-638-4500.

This Friday in New Haven, from noon-3pm, Vegan Animal Rights Advocates will protest Yale University's use of animals in their labs for testing. Protesters will have signs and pass out educational leaflets. They will meet at Amistad Park by one of the main labs and walk to Congress and Cedar Streets, then to near the main entrance of Yale hospital. You can search “Protest Yale Animal Labs” on facebook for details.

The Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown sponsors Using FamilySearch.org, a presentation on resources for genealogy research, on Saturday at 9:30 am. Details at www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

The Studio at Billings Forge in Hartford holds it’s monthly Winter Food Market Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Early shoppers can get a food voucher, and family activities are part of the fun. www.hartford.com/events/

The Rockfall Foundation and the Brainerd Library sponsor their second event in their series River Views: An Appreciation of Our State’s Namesake Waterway, Saturday at 11 am at the library in Haddam. The guest is from Christine’s Critters, an organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of birds of prey and reptiles. Details at www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford sponsors Fools For Love: A Musical Cabaret, Saturday at 7:30 pm, with proceeds benefitting Night Fall, an artistic community. There’s a pre-show reception at 6 pm. www.hartford.com/events/

The Middletown Recreation Department offers an early Earth Day hike at Hubbard Brook Preserve Sunday at 10 am. Call 860-638-4500 for details or to register.

Baby Grand Jazz continues at the Hartford Public Library Sunday at 2 pm with a performance by Jazzkia. Details at www.hplct.org

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

Through Thursday, Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues their runs of “The China Hustle,” a film about international stocks fraud, and “Journey’s End,” a WWI drama. Also continuing through Thursday is their afternoon movie, “Phantom Thread,” a drama about a British fashion designer in Post WWII London. Through Sunday Real Art Ways continues their run of Leaning into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy.  On Friday they open “Outside In,” a love story about an ex-con and his former high school teacher. Check the website for details and screening times at www.realartways.org

Trinity College’s Cinestudio in Hartford tonight opens a their run of “Phantom Thread,”. On Sunday they open their annual April in Paris Film Festival, with a variety of offerings.  Check the website for full schedule and screening times. http://www.cinestudio.org/

The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford is screening the 1979 version of “Dracula” Thursday at 8 pm. You can see “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” Saturday at 2 pm in their family film series in conjunction with the Gorey’s Worlds exhibit. They screen “Frank vs God” on Sunday as part of their Interfaith Film Series. Check the website for dates and times.  www.thewadsworth.org

Here's the rundown of tonight’s lineup here on WESU 88.1 FM Middletown: