What's Happening This Week (Part 2)

Thursday July 9:
Besides the first of 2 shows by Doug Varone and Dancers (8 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the CFA Theater at Wesleyan - see here) and the opening evening of North End Nights (read here), one can attend the Graduate Liberal Studies Program's Open House/Gallery Talk at 6: 30 p.m. in Zilkha Gallery. For the past several weeks, the Main Gallery has hosted a teacher/student display that is quite impressive. Works by Professors or instructors John Frazer, Keiji Shinohara, Peter Waite and Marion Belanger hang alongside works by students David Beveridge, Dean Passanesi, and Charlice Culvert (her work is particularly striking.) Ms. Belanger will deliver the talk - the event is free and open to the public. The show closes this weekend, so head on over. For more information, call 685-3338.

Also tonight, the Green Street Arts Center has a busy schedule with 3 separate events. At 5:30 p.m., there is an "Arts in the Garden Photo Scavenger Hunt" followed at 7 p.m. by a meeting of the "Flash Forward" photography group. Also at 7 p.m., the GSAC Writers Out Loud group holds a "Literary Open Mic." For more information about any or all events, call 685-7871.

Friday July 10:
There will be a Songwriter Circle event 8 p.m. at The Buttonwood Tree. Scheduled to appear are Lisa Lawrence, Emma Weiss and Krizta Moon (pictured left.) All 3 are based in Connecticut and bring different influences and styles to the program. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/lisalawrence, www.myspace.com/emmaweissmusic, and www.kriztamoon.com. To reserve a seat, call 347-4957.

Boney's Music Lounge, atop Fishbone Cafe, presents the bluesy sounds of Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze at 8:30 p.m. Led by harmonica player/vocalist Wally Greaney and guitarist Mark Easton, the quartet specializes in Chicago-style electric blues. For more information about the band, go to www.myspace.com/sweetdaddylive. For more information about Boney's, call 346-6000.

Saturday July 11:
The Buttonwood Tree welcomes back the Collin Wade Jazz Quartet for an evening of mainstream music with fine improvisations. Joining alto saxophonist Wade will be Matt Smith (guitar), Ian Tait (bass) and Colleen Clark (drums.) To learn more about the band, go to www.myspace.com/collinwadejazz.

Jazz/funk returns to Boney's Music Lounge when the exciting and electrifying Melvin Sparks Trio comes back to town. Guitarist Sparks is ably assisted by organist Matthew O and drummer Bill Carbone (currently a Middletown resident and graduate student at Wesleyan.) They'll "rock the lounge" from 8:30 p.m. to 12 midnight.