Celebrate a Visionary & Other Events (May 8-9)

It's been a tough, heartbreaking, scary and sorrowful few days but even as we mourn a member of our community cruelly taken from our midst, we must move forward.

North End Arts Rising celebrates the work and vision of Susan Allison on Friday May 8 with a gala fundraiser and evening of performances. Hard to believe but it's been 20 years since the poet/activist Allison came to Middletown to open Ibis Bookstore on Rapallo Avenue. Within 2 years, the place became a gathering place for writers and soon Allison and her husband Stephan began a performance series. The Buttonwood Tree soon began to book musicians from all over the country and world, many of whom only performed on college campuses or in larger urban areas. Plays were staged, poetry slams and more until that fateful May night when a fire broke out on the second floor and the building soon was reduced to ashes.

Through a lot of hard work and pounding the pavement, The Buttonwood Tree and bookstore moved to Liberty Commons (after a stint in the basement of Oddfellows Playhouse.) The new space at 605 Main Street, located on the first floor of what used to be the Arriwani Hotel, literally and figuratively rose from the ashes. While it's never been easy to attract local people to the North End (unless you're a brilliant chef in an old diner or have one of the best beer selections in the state), performers and poets love working in the intimate space and artists enjoy having their work on the walls.

To celebrate, 4 separate venues in the North End will take part in the festivities from 7 - 10 p.m. The Buttonwood Tree hosts Noah Baerman (piano) who performs with Joe Fonda (bass) and Kunle Mwanga (clarinet.) James Burr will also perform as will Kristen Graves (in a post-party mini-concert.) There will be a live and silent auction and perhaps Ms. Allison will favor the crowd with a poem or 2. A number of local restaurants are providing food for the evening. Across the street at MAC 650, saxophonist David Davis will host a musical party (with more food) featuring Melissa Spencer, Terry Woolard, Trevor Davis and Randy & Freddie Moses. Around the corner at the Realto Cafe on Rapallo Avenue, the Jarrod Caffey Jazz Trio will perform and attendees will be able to view a video of The Buttonwood Tree's early years. I understand there will be some dynamite food as well. The Gatekeeper Tavern, 73 Ferry Street, is the 4th venue and will feature a Traveling Poetry Troupe, music by the John Dixon Band, and Francine Augeri's verbal memoir of the North End. Lest we forget, there will be more food at this venue.

The blocks north of Washington Street have been maligned for years - I know there are issues - but look what has grown up and/or expanded in the 20 years since Ibis Bookstore and The Buttonwood took root. There are a slew of restaurants, a great Tibetan store, It's Only Natural Market, Michael Arafeh's Coffee House Studios, Middletown Framing, the Community Health Center, the Soup Kitchen, and other businesses. Let's hope the rain stops long enough for people to come and celebrate the vision of Susan Allison, her family and friends. For more information, call 347-4957 or go to www.buttonwood.org.

The Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company completes its 5-show run of Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" with 7:30 p.m. performances on both Friday and Saturday. For more information and reservations, call 347-6143.

There are number of events scheduled on the Wesleyan campus for this weekend including Friday's West African Drumming & Dance Concert at 3 p.m. and the Wesleyan Steel Band Concert Saturday at 1 p.m. (as well as several dance events.) Go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call the University Box Office at 685-3355 to find out the status of these programs.

On Saturday evening, The Buttonwood Tree opens its doors to singer/songwriter Shandy Lawson. Opening the show at 7:30 p.m. will be the 4-piece rock band known as The Mountain Movers.

Also on Saturday, Boney's Music Lounge above Fishbone Cafe, 106 Court Street, welcomes bassist/composer Mario Pavone & his new Quartet. The Connecticut native and resident came into his own as a performer in the 1970s. After a long stint with saxophonist Thomas Chapin (ending in 1998 with Chapin's untimely death at the age of 40), Pavone began leading his own groups and is considered one of the finer players on the creative music scene. Joining him will be pianist Craig Hartley, saxophonist Kris Allen and drummer Curtis Torian. For more information, call346-6000.