PUMPKIN PATCH at The Shore Line Trolley Museum. October 18, 19, 25, 26, 11 AM to 4 PM.

Take the trolley and children select a little pumpkin to decorate. Toy train layouts, refreshments, and more!

Adults: $8, Seniors: $6, Children $5  203-467-6927,  17 River Street, East Haven, CT.

Thirty-six artists from fifteen different countries were selected to participate in this next outstanding biennial art exhibit Latin Views 2008, which opens on September 19, at 6:00 pm at the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point Campus, located in the Branford House Mansion.   The Latin Views 2008 will be an extraordinary international celebration of art that will be sure to excite and entertain any art lover.  The exhibit will cover narrative, fantasy, myths, prophesies, spectacle, and the ambiguous territory between the real and unreal.  This exhibit is an invitation to the viewer to enter, explore, and immerse himself in the imaginary world of contemporary Latin artists, which is filled with emotions and imagery. The exhibition will occupy the entire gallery creating the ideal atmosphere to showcase these impressive works of art.   The Latins Views 2008 was curated by the directors and advisors of the LNVA jointly with The Griffis Art Center Board of Trustees and overseen by Julia Pavone, Director of The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art.  The artistic director of Latin Views 2008 is Sharon Griffis, who is also the Director of Griffis Art Center of New London CT and has extensive experience organizing exhibitions throughout Connecticut. Highlighted among the special events of this exhibition is a Panel Discussion organized by the LNVA that will be presented in association with The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at the Marine Science Building, University of Connecticut at Avery Point on the following day of the opening reception, September 20, 2008 at 1:30 pm. Since its inception in 2003, the Latin Views exhibits have greatly evolved and have become the leading medium offering international contemporary art to southeastern Connecticut.  The exhibit will run from September 19th to November 2nd, 2008.  The opening reception will be on Friday September 19th, from 6.00 to 8.00 pm and the panel discussion will be on September 20th at 1:30 pm.

Celtic Rock ‘08

A Festival of Contemporary and Traditional Irish Music

     Celtic Rock ’08 takes place on Saturday, October 18th at the Irish American Community Center (IACC), 9 Venice Place, East Haven, Connecticut.  The event offers an eclectic assortment of Irish music in all its forms and varieties from 12:00pm until 8:00pm. 

     Headliners at this first annual gathering include Black 47, with its unblinkingly political and thoroughly Irish form of rock n’ roll.  Its songs cover topics from conflict in Northern Ireland to civil rights and urban unrest in contemporary New York.  The Highland Rovers Band fuses popular rock percussive rhythms, bagpipes and vocal harmonies to create an intricate and fresh sound.  The band’s danceable music showcases its universal appeal to both modern rock lovers and audiences searching for a distinct Celtic flavor. Unforgettable Fire brings the very best U2 tribute possible to the stage.  They do everything in their power (from wardrobe to lighting) to recreate the live U2 concert setting.

There will be kids’ activities on offer, and children under 16 will be admitted free of charge.  Food, beer, wine and refreshments will be served.  Tickets are $40 and benefit the New Haven Youth Gaelic Football Program as they prepare for national competition in San Francisco next July.

The remarkable singer/guitarist/songwriter Kenny Rankin performs on Saturday, October 18th at 4 and 8pm.  The WindhamARTS Collaborative brings this impressive performer to the intimate Capitol Theater located at 896 Main St. Willimantic for one day only.  Advanced tickets are available online at windhamarts.org or by calling (860) 450-1794.  Rankin’s multifaceted talent has the uncanny ability to cut straight to a song’s emotional heart. 

With a great recording career that spans four decades, Kenny Rankin is an insightful songwriter, a distinctive guitarist and a world-class singer, possessing an uncanny ability to cut straight to a song's emotional heart.  Kenny's talents have been recognized by his peers including Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, and Mel Torme, all of whom have covered his songs.  Johnny Carson was such a huge fan that Kenny appeared on the Tonight Show over twenty times. 

Inspired by blues legends like T-Bone Walker, Charlie Patton and Big Joe Turner, Duke's guitar work has seamlessly spanned the worlds of jazz, blues, and swing since he founded the renowned big band, Roomful of Blues, in 1967.

Duke has recorded twenty acclaimed solo albums and toured the world both with his own band and also as Jimmie Vaughan's replacement in The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In addition to his own recordings, Duke has played on and/or produced albums by Bob Dylan (1997's Grammy-winning Time Out of Mind), Ruth Brown, Johnny Adams, Kim Wilson, Jay McShann, Pinetop Perkins, John Hammond, Jimmy Witherspoon, Snooky Pryor and many more. Called "one of the great players" by the legendary B.B. King, Duke is a 4 time winner for Best Guitarist at the Blues Music Awards and his live show is a masterful display of a wide variety of blues styles.

The University of Hartford, in cooperation with WWUH radio (91.3 FM), has created a way to use music to help its Hartford-area neighbors. The MUSIC for a CHANGE benefit concert series, launched in the spring of 2000, has raised thousands of dollars for Greater Hartford charities and nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of our neighbors. 

On Saturday, October 18, Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity will be the featured nonprofit at the Aztec Two Step concert.  Not only is the University of Hartford allowing us a chance to promote our mission, but they are also donating a portion of the profits to Hartford Habitat.  Please come out and join us!  Show your support for Hartford Habitat, and hear some great music at the same time!

 Aztec Two Step (performing the Simon and Garfunkel Songbook), Saturday, October 18 at 9:00 pm at the Millard Auditorium, University of Hartford 

$25 in advance/$30 day of the show 

Home Movie Day is a celebration of amateur films and filmmaking held
annually at many local venues worldwide.

Home Movie Day events provide the opportunity for individuals and
families to see and share their own home movies with an audience of
their community, and to see their neighbors' films in return. It's a chance to
discover why to care about these films and to learn how best to care
for them.

New Haven Home Movie Day will be an open screening on Saturday October
18th, in which members of the community will be asked to bring in home
movies. The films will be inspected by trained film lab technicians
and archivists, and then projected in front of an audience. Home
movies do not need to be your own family's but can also include found
films. Formats accepted: 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm.
There will be information available on how to properly care for your
movies, transfer options and local vendors, and fun prizes to give
away!

Film drop-off and inspection: noon to 2pm.
Home Movie Screenings: 2pm to 6pm.
Free and open to the public (wheelchair access available)

Video PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RAXZrOaI_w

If you have a movie to show, we would prefer you arrive at noon to
drop your film off for inspection and projection preparation.

Westport Arts Center presents:

Optomism

Sept. 26 - Nov. 30

An exhibition examining the role of art as a form of political activism. Open to the public.

Gallery Talkback: Wed, Nov. 12, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

WAC Main Gallery

For more information, contact WAC at 203-222-7070, www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery, M-F 10-4; Sat/Sun 12-4 at 51 Riverside Ave., Westport.

Stamford Theatre Works presents Defiance by John Patrick Shanley

Directed by Patricia R. Floyd

Jan. 28 - Feb. 15

Set in 1971 in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, two U.S. Marine officers, one black and one white, are on a collision course over power, responsibility, and an affair with an enlisted man's wife. Performances on Tuesdays though Saturdays at 8 p.m.; matinees Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.; first Sunday and first Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets $25 to $43.

Stamford Theatre Works, 200 Strawberry Hill Ave. (campus of Sacred Heart Academy), Stamford.
www.stamfordtheatreworks.org / Box office: 203-359-4414

October 7 - 25 and October 30 - November 1

Westport Country Playhouse stages "Of Mice and Men," a classic drama by John Steinbeck. Tony Award-winning designer Michael Yeargen will be scenic designer, with the legendary Jane Greenwood as costume designer. $30 - $65. For more information and tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or for out-of-town callers toll-free at 888-927-7529, or visit the box office at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, in Westport, CT. Information about the Playhouse is also available at www.westportplayhouse.org.